Application of a cluster analysis for the study of social segregation in the municipality of Bilbao

Abstract

Residential segregation is an undeniable fact in any city of the world. On the premise that segregation is a multidimensional process and that the territorial diagnosis is the first step in order to launch any kind of policy, in this article, we establish a characterization and taxonomy of the boroughs of Bilbao. The research methodology relies on a cluster analysis resulting from the processing and debugging of several statistical sources: municipal, regional and national data. Our analysis suggests that the variables related to income and immigration status are the responsible ones, which condition such segregation. Identifying the different types of neighborhoods will allow redirecting local policies to solve the areas that are particularly affected.