Publication Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Chen, Xuwei X.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment (EAE)

Abstract

Housing issues in cities paradoxically manifest as growing inaccessibility and an oversupply with high prices. Urban public policies have been insufficient to reverse this pattern because they fail to address its root cause: the socio-spatial process resulting in uneven development. This dissertation starts with the premise that housing problems are not isolated but intricately linked to social dynamics and spatial configurations.Latin American cities represent a particular case study due to their high degree of urbanization combined with high inequality, leading to unique and highly segregated urban forms such as self-built settlements and gated communities in close proximity. We take the city of Quito in Ecuador as a case study. This research is framed within the analytical framework that seeks to understand the socio-spatial dialectic and its role in the persistence and recreation of inequitable structures. Using a mixed-method approach that combines statistical analysis techniques and interviews with advanced spatial approaches like Geographically Weighted Regression and Participatory Geographic Information Systems, we aim to answer three questions: 1) What are the determinants of housing prices from a spatial perspective? 2) What social and spatial patterns does residential satisfaction exhibit? 3) What is the relationship between residential preferences and segregation in young adults with high and middle incomes? The study's findings have several implications for other cities in Latin America facing similar housing challenges. Firstly, the comparison of traditional Hedonic Price Models with Geographical Weighted Regression models provides insights into the effectiveness of applying these models to analyze housing submarkets, offering a methodological framework that can be adapted and utilized in other cities. Secondly, the emphasis on understanding the intertwined social and spatial aspects of residential satisfaction within the city underscores the importance of considering both non-spatial and spatial perspectives in addressing housing challenges. Additionally, unravelling the intricate tapestry that underlines the multifaceted nature of housing dynamics, spatial patterns, and the values that underpin residential choices enrich the limited body of literature on housing in Latin American cities, providing a basis for further research and analysis in similar urban contexts. Overall, the study's findings offer valuable lessons and approaches that can be applied to inform housing policies and urban development strategies in other cities facing similar housing challenges in Latin America. Overall, future research in this area could benefit from a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, considering the complex interplay of spatial, social, and economic factors in shaping residential preferences and behavior within Latin American cities.

Extent

178 pages

Language

en

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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