Who gets what, where, and how much? Composite index of spatial inequality for small areas in Tehran

Abstract

Urban spatial inequality is multidimensional and complex. The extant literature identifies three main theoretically-informed dimensions of spatial inequality—accessibility, environmental conditions, and socio-economic conditions. We combine geospatial data on measures across these three theoretical dimensions to derive a composite index for the city of Tehran, Iran. We draw on these three dimensions respectively from the relative geographic locations of urban facilities and services, satellite images, and census and survey data. The application contributes to the evidence-base on urban spatial inequality and may inform urban policy decisions aimed at reducing spatial inequality.