Dr. Tatjana Ibraimovic - Analysing ethnic preferences using a discrete choice modelling framework

Analysing ethnic preferences using a discrete choice modelling framework

Friday 10 February 2017

Abstract:

Ethnic pluralism and its increasing trend across European countries, has sparked debate on residential segregation, a phenomenon that has various repercussions at economic, social and urban dimensions of modern societies. Social integration and cohesion in residential areas is, indeed, seen as one of the main challenges of urban development today. The question leads to two main issues: on one side, an increasing residential spatial gap between the affluent and less affluent social classes, on the other geographical separation between inhabitants of different origins, cultures and religions.

In this seminar I will addresses such issues, presenting the analysis of ethnic determinants of residential location choice with the application to the Swiss city of Lugano. I will focus on the use of discrete choice modelling and stated preferences (SP) experimental techniques to assess the importance of voluntary self-segregation (i.e. ethnic preferences) across household with different ethnic and socio-economic background. I will also discuss various choice modelling strategies for answering some of the key questions arising in this domain. Finally, I will discuss the results and policy implications.