The geography of cultural capital: measuring neighborhood-level gaps in access as a key driver of social mobility

Abstract

This article examines the spatial manifestation of cultural capital, an increasingly central means by which social inequalities are demarcated. To conduct our analysis, we measure both linear and transportation network distances between neighborhoods and representative amenities of cultural capital within the twelve most populous American metropolitan areas. By classifying neighborhoods according to their residents’ income and educational attainment levels, we identify consistent and geographically based gaps in access to cultural capital that favor the socially advantaged, particularly in terms of educational attainment. These results highlight how local geographies mediate access to social mobility. We recommend policy interventions accordingly.