Intraurban ethnic enclaves: introducing a knowledge-based classification method

Most studies of ethnic segregation in cities use relative measures to create residential area classifications. We argue that absolute measures are better suited to testing theories of spatial separation, and introduce a classification procedure which provides a robust approach to comparative studies, directly linked to the homogeneity-heterogeneity continuum which underpins all studies of segregation. The procedure is illustrated by analyses of the five main ethnic groups in each of the largest cities of Australia, New Zealand, and the USA (Sydney, Auckland, and New York). There are substantial differences among those cities in their ethnic residential patterns, to the extent that these can be clearly established given the other difficulties in cross-national comparative studies (data comparability and the spatial scale of the data units): New York is segmented, Sydney is integrated, and Auckland occupies an intermediate position.