The Effects of the Spanish Housing System on the Settlement Patterns of Immigrants

Abstract

Globalisation and its consequent economic restructuring have implications at the local level. At the same time historical paths and traditions, embeddedness of local actors and institutional factors have all become significant in explaining different neighbourhood trajectories and, particularly, the patterns of urban segregation that emerge following economic restructuring. Given the unusual nature of the Spanish housing model and the massive arrival of immigrants since the end of the 1990s, this paper explores the urban effects of immigration settlement patterns in the context of a market dominated by owner-occupation and a unique framework of social housing policy. Purchase of permanent residences is an essential step in the housing careers of the Spanish population but also for immigrants to Spain. The paper analyses the extent to which this influences urban segregation patterns and neighbourhood characteristics in Spain. Barcelona is referred to as a case study, to illustrate the influence of the existing housing system in the process of the accommodation of newcomers. Copyright (c) 2009 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.

Suburbanisation and International Immigration: The Case of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region (1998–2009)

“…These well connected areas, built in the 1950s and 1960s for Spanish immigrants, offer low price housing – to rent or buy – in low quality neighbourhoods which are emptying for life cycle and biological reasons (López‐Gay 2008; Bayona & Gil‐Alonso 2008). Foreigners, for their part, are gradually gaining access to property and are progressively occupying them (Pareja‐Eastaway 2009; Vono & Bayona 2010).…”

Changes in Spatial Patterns of the Immigrant Population of a Southern European Metropolis: The Case of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (2001–2008)

“…There are no studies on the spatial distribution of immigrant populations in the BMA, though some empirical research is available on the central municipality of Barcelona. For example, Martori and Hoberg (2004) have studied the residential segregation of its immigrant populations; from a spatial demographic perspective, there is a study by Bayona (2006, 2007); Fullaondo (2003) has contributed a sociological perspective; Pareja‐Eastaway (2009) has analysed the housing conditions of immigrant populations and there have also been comparisons with other southern European cities (Arbaci 2004, 2008). Unfortunately, these studies have two important limitations: First, by limiting their focus to the municipality of Barcelona, they consider only half the population and only 16 per cent of BMA territory; second, they do not examine changes that have occurred in the most recent period (2001–2008) – a period with the highest‐ever levels of immigrant population growth.…”

“…With regard to immigrants in the south, these differences result from access to a highly informal labour‐market (Simon et al . 2008) and housing‐market (Arbaci 2004, 2007; Pareja‐Eastaway 2009), which give rise to poor living conditions. These disadvantages may give rise to a segregation of ethnic groups in urban areas (Johnston et al .…”

Housing Market Integration of Migrants: Moroccans in Spain

“…However, the newly constructed buildings of the large construction firms basically responded to the demand for property in the mid‐ and high‐price‐segment in privileged locations. Moreover, the prices on the housing market increased excessively until the beginning of the cool down in the real estate market and made it difficult for many low‐income households to get access to housing (Pareja‐Eastaway ). Concurrently, direct aids for households, which are in need to pay rented accommodation, have been scarcely available.…”