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We examine how proportional changes in residential context are associated with changes in attitudes towards immigrants. We specifically examine ethnic diversity dynamics and immigrant visibility at the level of the neighbourhood. Following the 'defended neighbourhood' hypothesis, we focus on proportional change, not absolute numbers. Data from the Dutch LISS panel are analysed using fixed-effect models, measuring the composition of neighbourhoods at the level of four-digit postcodes. Our findings show that a larger change in the proportion of immigrant residents is associated with more positive views on immigrants among natives. It is particularly a change in the proportion of visible non-Western immigrants that appears to be relevant for changes in attitudes. Contrary to theoretic expectations, we find little evidence for 'defended neighbourhoods' in the Netherlands in the years under consideration. How attitudes towards immigrants are shaped by residential context: The role of ethnic diversity dynamics and immigrant visibility.

Richard Florida's creative class concept hardly needs introduction, neither in academic nor in urban and regional policy circles. The essence in a nutshell: the economic future of cities depends on their ability to attract creative people; and these creatives are attracted most to places that are tolerant, diverse, lively, and amenity‐rich. Florida assigns these locational preferences specifically to the creative class, implying that they are of less importance to the “ordinary” workforce. With the help of a survey we compare the reasons why people moved to or stayed in Berlin's most bohemian neighborhood, Prenzlauer Berg. We make a distinction between those who are categorized as “creative class” and others. Our results indicate that despite its unique character the creative class is not predominantly driven by the locational preferences Florida specifically assigned to them. Remarkably, these locational preferences appear more important drivers of residential choices for the ordinary workforce.

There are indications that over the past years investors have been increasingly active on urban housing markets, using housing as a vehicle for wealth and investment, rather than considering it a social good. An increasingly dominant role for investors, financial agents and financial instruments on the housing market, is also known as the financialisation of housing. Assumingly, housing financialisation has negative consequences for housing affordability, driving up prices, and decreasing the affordable housing stock especially for lower and middle classes. To get a better understanding of housing financialisation and its relationship to housing affordability, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service, conducted an exploratory study on the topic (Van Heerden, Barranco, and Lavalle, 2020).

This study provides a quantitative analisis of the interactions between urban and rural areas and related territorial disparities in the European Union (EU). Relevant societal themes such as population changes, access to services, broadband internet connectivity, house prices, tourism and land‐use/cover flows are examined by mean of indicators computed with the most recent data at the highest spatial resolution. The degree of urbanization (cities, towns and suburbs, rural areas) is used to identify territorial differences and to compare EU regions. Results show that rural and remote areas are lagging in terms of relevant territorial assets compared with more urbanized typologies, with strong variations from region to region depending on the analysed theme. The study provides quantitative and graphical information by applying a descriptive statistical analysis of the indicators and a spatial multicriteria assessment to help with decision‐making processes. It concludes by summarizing the most important outcomes with a set of policy recommendations.