Spatial mismatch research in the 1990s: progress and potential

Abstract

Abstract. This article reviews recent research about the spatial mismatch hypothesis from a range of social science disciplines. Since 1990, researchers have tested the mismatch hypothesis in diverse metropolitan settings; devised more accurate measures of geographical access to employment; and developed models to address issues such as compensating variations, sample selection bias, and contextual effects. We argue for a broader conceptualization of spatial mismatch that considers how social and spatial relations affect employment outcomes for women, immigrants, and other ethnic minorities. This broader view will enhance the contribution of research to current theoretical and policy debates about urban poverty. The effects of metropolitan context and neighborhood‐level differences in services, resources, and social networks on spatial access and, independently, on wages and employment also warrant future research attention.

Unemployment among patients with newly diagnosed first-episode psychosis: prevalence and clinical correlates in a US sample

“…It may be that societal barriers drive unemployment in this particular sample as much as, or more than, illness-related barriers. Barriers such as lack of geographical access to jobs, deficiencies in transportation access, and young age could account for the reason that African Americans are disproportionately unemployed [25]. Indeed, when examining the rate of employment in the closest demographic group within the region, African American males aged 20-24 years, the employment rate was just over 50%.…”

Introducing a Method for the Computation of Doubly Constrained Accessibility Models in Larger Datasets

“…However, the hypothesis remains a vividly debated issue, primarily since the used job access proxies do not function as well as needed. Several researchers have encouraged the development of new models of job accessibility (Ihlanfeldt and Sjoquist 1998;Immergluck 1998;Preston and McLafferty 1999;Perle et al 2002). Later years advances in computer capacity have made it possible to develop new types of complex, and computer intensive accessibility models.…”

“…Due to the extensive number of articles written on the subject the main results and trends in research may be hard to grasp. However, several reviews of the progress in research serve as good introductions to the field see for instance (Kain 1992;Ihlanfeldt and Sjoquist 1998;Preston and McLafferty 1999;Ihlanfeldt 2006). Over the decades the hypothesis has been used more extensively to interpret mismatch in areas outside the city centre (Gottlieb and Lentnek 2001), including other ethnical groups and female breadwinners (Kain 1992;Blumenberg 2004).…”

Job search success and employability in local labor markets

“…One view considers that local relevant labor demand is crucial for people finding jobs (see, for example, Turok and Edge 1999). In this, spatial mismatch, between where job seekers live and where jobs are located, can be seen as being widespread (Preston and McLafferty 1999;Arnott 1998). The other perspective argues that even large metropolitan labor markets are geographically efficient or relatively "frictionless" in terms of people getting access to jobs throughout the area (e.g., Cheshire 1979;Gordon 2002).…”