Ethnic neighborhoods, social networks, and inter-household carpooling: A comparison across ethnic minority groups: Fid-Bau Portal

Ethnic neighborhoods, social networks, and inter-household carpooling: A comparison across ethnic minority groups

Shin, Eun Jin

AbstractThe implications of racial residential segregation on travel behavior have remained understudied, despite the persistent existence of segregation. Using the 2009 National Household Travel Survey, I investigate whether residence in a co-ethnic neighborhood affects the likelihood that ethnic minorities will form inter-household carpools, and if so, how such effects differ across race or ethnic groups. Inter-household carpooling requires arrangements and interactions between people living in geographical proximity, so it will likely reflect the social networks of a neighborhood. The results show that Hispanics and Asians who reside in their co-ethnic neighborhoods, regardless of immigrant status, are more likely to use inter-household carpools for non-work purposes than their counterparts living outside co-ethnic neighborhoods. In contrast, black neighborhood residency is not associated with the likelihood that African Americans will do inter-household carpooling, regardless of trip purpose. These differences across racial/ethnic groups suggest that the role of neighborhoods in promoting social ties as reflected by activities such as external carpooling is complex. Residence in a black neighborhood may be less of a choice than residence in a Hispanic or Asian neighborhood due to the long history of black segregation in the US. With less residential choice, the propensity to develop local social ties may be weaker.

Highlights•Inter-household carpooling is used as a proxy for local social supportive networks.•The relationship between co-ethnic neighborhood residency and inter-household carpooling probability differs by ethnic group.•Hispanics and Asians living in co-ethnic neighborhoods are more likely to form inter-household carpools for non-work trips.•Co-ethnic neighborhood residency does not increase the likelihood of carpooling across households among African Americans.•The effects of co-ethnic neighborhood residency on the formation of inter-household carpools do not vary by nativity status.