Co-ethnic concentration and trust in Canada's urban neighbourhoods. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Zheng; Hou, Feng; Schimmele, Christoph; Carmichael, Adam
• Is Part Of: Urban studies. Volume 55:Number 10(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 2159
• Page End: 2178
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: co-ethnic concentration -- neighbourhood diversity -- social capital -- trust; 同族裔聚集度 -- 邻里多样性 -- 社会资本 -- 信任; Cities and towns -- Periodicals; City planning -- Periodicals; 307.1216
• DOI: 10.1177/0042098017708939
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-0980

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the density of people's ethno-racial in-group in their neighbourhoods (co-ethnic concentration) and trust in their neighbours. Previous studies demonstrate that ethno-racial diversity decreases trust in others, however, these studies rely on overly broad definitions of diversity and of trust, and often do not disaggregate the effects for Whites and ethno-racial minorities. Hence, this study examines the relationship between co-ethnic concentration and trust, focusing on how this relationship may change depending upon one's ethno-racial status. Putnam's (2007) analysis leads to a paradox in the sense that, according to the same principle that predicts declining trust amongst Whites, increasing diversity should lead to greater levels of trust for ethno-racial minorities whose share of the population increases with diversification. The findings demonstrate that there is a positive relationship between co-ethnic concentration and trust in neighbours and that this relationship holds for Whites as well as ethno-racial minorities.