'U' conducts study on diversity in suburbs

Low-status suburbs have a poverty rate six times higher than the poverty rate of high-status suburbs, according to a study conducted by University sociologist David Harris.

For one year, Harris, who works out of the Institute for Social Research, conducted independent research about the diversity and socioeconomic status of suburbanites in contrast to inner city residents.

Harris used census data from 1970, 1980 and 1990 to determine what percentage of Non-Latino/a whites, Non Latino/a blacks, Asians and Latino/as made up the suburban population of the United States.

In addition to the distance an area is from a major city, income was used to divide suburbs into three divisions - low-status, middle-status and high-status.

Harris explained in a written statement that "knowing whether someone lives in the central city or the suburbs provides little information about the socioeconomic status of his or her community," confirming what he said demographic specialists already know.

But he said "my surprise was the magnitude of the difference."

His findings also concluded that it was very likely that low-status suburbs were less advantaged than their neighboring inner city. He found that blacks and Latino/as especially are most likely to live in low-status suburbs. Harris' findings indicates that 18.76 percent of the population living in low-status suburbs is black and 20.96 percent is Latino/a.

But in the high-status suburban counterparts, the black population dwindles to 2.97 percent and 3.58 percent for Latino/as.

"It isn't that blacks and Latinos don't prefer affluent neighbors, low crime and good schools. They certainly do," Harris said in a written statement.

"But they might have even stronger preferences to live near other blacks and Latinos and in proximity to the central city."

Harris' data for white and Asian populations differ greatly from the numbers for blacks and Latino/as in low-status suburbs. 56.28 percent are white and 3.41 percent are Asian. In high-status suburbs, 89.05 percent are white and 4.23 percent Asian.

Harris suggests that these circumstances could be "the effect of persistent housing discrimination."

Harris also said in a written statement that "openings in middle and high suburbs are more likely filled by whites, while blacks are steered toward suburbs that rarely represent a higher socioeconomic status alternative to the central city."

More information about this study can be found on the University's News and Information Service Website at www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/.

09-28-99