Disparities in Mobility Across Chicago Neighborhodds

Harris School’s post-doctoral scholar James Saxon speaks about his research regarding the disparities in mobility during the lockdown owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

By Atman Mehta, Contributor

Harris School postdoctoral scholar James Saxon speaks about his research on the mobility of neighbourhoods in Chicago during the lockdown. Here's what he found: 

  • Neighborhoods with African American or Hispanic majority residents spent 20% more time outside home than others
  • Such disparities were prevalent across income, race, and educational attainment
  • Moreover, these trends were the reverse before the lockdown: areas of the city as parks, the downtown area, etc. were accessed predominantly by those who were white, rich, or held high educational degrees