Socio-demographic composition of the geographically immobile urban population

Abstract

Most of the populace remains geographically immobile according to classical migration theories. An important consideration that limits change of place of residence is attachment to that place and its people, as well as some life-shaping circumstances such as job prospects, education, raising children and the buying of a residential property (Fischer et. al. 2000). More than half of the residents of Rīga (419146) in 2018 have lived in the same neighbourhood for at least 18 years (CSB 2018). This raises the question as to whether they also share common socio-economic circumstances. Geographically immobile residents are the core of the population. Study analyses on the socio-demographic background of geographically immobile residents of Rīga, who have not changed location since the 1990s, used data from a 2015 survey (n=867). The residential 'harbours' for long-term residents are Soviet socialist periodbuilt apartment-block housing neighbourhoods. Having a population of school-age children, people in retirement and/or on a low income might contribute to some of the reasons for staying at one place for longer periods of time in suburban Rīga. The sociodemographic characteristics of the geographically immobile population displays differences among respondents residing in different neighbourhoods. Among the neighbourhoods with the highest share of geographically immobile respondents, the areas located on the outskirts of the capital city are less attractive than those more central and with higher incomes and children.