Neighbourhood reputations and moving behaviour

Matthieu Permentier

The Netherlands Institute of Social Research/SCP

The dynamics of neighbourhoods are partly a consequence of the (selective) inflow and outflow of persons into and out of these areas. Over the years a large number of studies have offered understanding of these dynamics by studying individual residential mobility behaviour. Besides socio-demographic characteristics of these individuals, different studies have pointed at the importance of neighbourhood attributes on moving behaviour (out of neighbourhoods). The attention for the neighbourhood in mobility studies is partly linked to the search among policy makers for factors that contribute to success in neighbourhood regeneration.
In this presentation we focus on the relationship between neighbourhood reputation and moving behaviour. It is argued that moving intentions of neighbourhood residents are not only affected by satisfaction with neighbourhood attributes and objective neighbourhood characteristics but also by how other city residents assess the neighbourhood: the reputation of the neighbourhood. We will show how, besides other factors, this reputation influences moving intentions and actual moving behaviour of both neighbourhood residents and non-residents. This indicates neighbourhood reputations are relevant in understanding neighbourhood dynamics and selective mobility. Some policy alternatives are discussed how to remain (affluent) residents in infamous neighbourhoods are discussed. Furthermore we will discuss how the effect of neighbourhood reputations on residential mobility behaviour, also play a role in the neighbourhood effects debates.