Personal attitude or experience? Which factors influence residents’ acceptance of mixed-income communities?

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 4; p. e0250511
• Main Authors: Luu, Duc Trung, Vo, Dao Chi, Kim, Jeongseob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 23.04.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Affordable housing; Biology and Life Sciences; Community development; Control theory; Demographic aspects; Development policy; Earth Sciences; Employees; Environmental engineering; Historical buildings; Housing; Housing policy; Income; Inequality; Low income groups; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Neighborhoods; People and Places; Planning; Psychological aspects; Public concern; Public housing; Research and Analysis Methods; Residential segregation; Residents; Role models; Rural communities; Segregation; Social aspects; Social capital; Social control; Social exclusion; Social networks; Social organization; Social Sciences; Stigma; Sustainable development; Tenants; Tenure; Villages; South Korea; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250511

Although many researchers and policy makers have argued that social mixing could contribute to sustainable communities, most people still prefer to live in a homogeneous rather than a diverse community. Considering the large gap between the political need for social mixing and people’s preference, it is essential to understand residents’ perceptions and preferences regarding socially-mixed neighborhoods in order to promote sustainable community development. This study explorers residents’ willingness to accept living in mixed-income communities in Korea, with attention to various levels of income mix. This study conducted an online survey of 2,000 respondents living in seven metropolitan cities in Korea, including Seoul. The study aimed to investigate residents’ comfortability and willingness to move into different mixed-income communities. The results showed that residents with higher openness to diversity are more likely to accept mixed-income communities, but frequent interaction with low-income people reduces higher-income people’s willingness to accept mixed-income communities. As both personal attitudes and experience are important determinants of individuals’ social mix preference, a more systematic community development strategy is required to achieve successful social mixing.