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Income Inequality and Urban Vulnerability to Flood Hazard in Brazil*
Author(s) -
Rasch Rebecca
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/ssqu.12274
Subject(s) - economic inequality , inequality , vulnerability (computing) , flood myth , social inequality , economics , demographic economics , income inequality metrics , household income , development economics , geography , mathematical analysis , computer security , mathematics , archaeology , computer science
Objective Income inequality scholars suggest that extreme income inequality leads to spatial segregation, political power concentrated in the high‐income (elite) class, and thus, uneven public resource access. This work argues that income inequality may also predict higher levels of vulnerability of urban municipalities to climate‐related hazards. Method Using factor analysis and multilevel regression models, this research tests whether income inequality is a predictor of vulnerability to flood hazards. Results The analysis shows that income inequality significantly predicts higher levels of a key component of vulnerability in urban Brazilian municipalities. Conclusion By providing empirical evidence for the theorized linkages between income inequality, spatial segregation, and uneven public resource access, this work bolsters the claims of income inequality scholars who suggest high levels of income inequality have negative social consequences. Additionally, this work is relevant to climate change vulnerability scholars as it underscores the importance of considering income inequality as part of urban climate change vulnerability assessments.