How segregation concentrates poverty

In this article, we argue that segregation interacts with a variety of stru ctural transformations in society to determine the spatial concentration of poverty. Based on this argument, we then specify a statistical model overc oming methodological problems that have hampered earlier work. Estimates ba sed on US data confirm that racial/ethnic segregation interacts with struct ural shifts in society to concentrate poverty. By 1990, a powerful interact ion between residential segregation and income inequality had emerged to sp atially isolate the poor, an interaction the effects of which were buttress ed by weaker interactions between segregation, rising class segregation, an d stagnating mean incomes. Our analysis reveals how underlying shifts in so cio-economic structure can have very different effects on the concentration of poverty experienced by different groups, depending on the degree of rac ial/ethnic segregation they experience.