Reza Asadi; Atoosa Modiri; Farhad Hosseinali; Ali Akbar Gholizadeh
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Objectives: With changing living conditions, households develop diverse needs, prompting moves within the city that involve changes in residential ...
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Extended Abstract
Background and Objectives: With changing living conditions, households develop diverse needs, prompting moves within the city that involve changes in residential units and the socio-economic environment of surrounding residents. In this paper, the identification of housing pattern selection and the differentiation of households’ preferences are explained based on the life course theory, which describes the general cycle of life changes and housing needs for all households. In the development of the mentioned theory, every urban household is divided into distinct categories with socio-economic characteristics, and these distinctions are the source of various housing choices. Identifying the effects and relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of households and the characteristics of neighbors explains the main discourses and currents of the city; such as the homogeneity of localities and spatial separation. In this paper, the choice of housing for certain groups in Tehran is discussed, emphasizing the socio-economic context of their chosen neighborhood. Therefore, the target household groups of the research are immigrants to Tehran, those born outside of Tehran, simple workers, single-parent households, individuals with disabilities and renters.Methods: Housing choice modeling employs discrete choice methodology and utilizes “quantitative multivariate regression” techniques, allowing for the analysis of multiple dependent variables. The model’s input data is sourced from the 2013 general population and housing census of Tehran city, as well as urban facility data from the detailed plan. The variables pertaining to the residential unit group include infrastructure size and building sustainability. Socio-economic structure variables encompass the female literacy rate, female employment rate, higher education attendance rate, private vehicles per capita, and student attendance rate.Findings: The research findings indicate that variables related to the “residential unit” group apply the most significant influence on housing choice. Additionally, all socio-economic variables demonstrate a significant relationship, validating the model’s accuracy. Notably, “personal car per capita” and “women’s literacy rate” contribute the highest percentage of explanation within this group. Among certain groups, there is a higher likelihood of selecting residential units with limited infrastructure and unstable buildings within the “residential unit” group. Similarly, the probability of choosing neighborhoods with lower socio-economic contexts increases. An exception to this trend is observed among immigrants who arrived within the last five years. Overall, the research suggests that, for certain groups, the priority lies in selecting a suitable residential unit over the neighborhood. However, for immigrants who have lived in the area for the past five years, prioritizing the socio-economic context of the neighborhood becomes more prevalent.Conclusion: The research findings highlight that, within the housing selection model, the characteristics of the residential unit show a significantly greater influence compared to the socio-economic context of the neighborhood. This prioritization of housing unit characteristics over other housing attributes aligns with observations made in third-world countries (Coulomb, 1998; Jacob & Saved off, 1999; Koizumi & Asadi et al., 2021). Reasons cited include the lack of premeditated planning for urban development, ineffective zoning regulations, and challenges within city neighborhoods. Furthermore, the pattern of residential unit selection remains consistent across the research groups, with an increased likelihood of choosing units with limited infrastructure and greater building instability. It appears that, for all groups, selecting appropriate housing takes precedence over choosing an ideal living environment. Within the socio-economic context of neighborhoods, car ownership and the literacy rate of women emerge as significant indicators of socio-economic differentiation in urban environments. Car ownership serves as a tangible marker of household wealth and is closely aligned with the city’s wealth distribution pattern, making it the primary index for defining the residential environment. Following closely, the literacy rate among women emerges as the second most influential indicator, impacting all target groups studied in this research. This underscores the importance of women’s education and their role within household structures in shaping Tehran’s socio-economic landscape, ultimately influencing household decisions in selecting a neighborhood. In analyzing the selection pattern of the socio-economic environment for residence, it was observed that nearly all independent variables and household characteristics align. Notably, as the quality of socio-economic neighborhood characteristics decreases, the likelihood of selection by research groups increases. However, an exception is noted among recent immigrants within the last five years, suggesting a divergence in the pattern of selecting the socio-economic environment among households-an important finding of this study.
