Title: Spatial issues in environmental equity

Authors: Kingsley E. Haynes, Somik V. Lall, Mark P. Trice

Addresses: The School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030-4444, USA. The School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030-4444, USA. The School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030-4444, USA

Abstract: Most of the social science literature on environmental (in)equity either crudely examines the spatial distribution of benefits and burdens or attempts to identify the causal mechanisms that give rise to these differences. A large part of the debate surrounding environmental equity appears to be based on (a) the extent of the spatial coincidence between the locations of environmental disamenities and minority residence; and/or (b) the causal interpretation of these relationships. This paper examines the possible relationships between environmental disamenities and socio-economic and demographic status of neighbourhoods. Specifically, the paper examines methodological issues in environmental justice and attempts to put forth a methodology which will correct the bias and inconsistency among results when dealing with issues and data that are inherently spatially dependent.

Keywords: environmental justice; spatial dependency; transportation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2001.000737

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2001 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.17-31

Published online: 17 Jul 2003 *

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