Work

Urban 'slums' and social mobility

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Informal urban settlements determine the well-being of a large section of global humanity. Yet there has been little research on their role in facilitating social mobility. In theory such settlements may foster human progress by linking rural-urban migrants to the services, contacts and livelihoods concentrated in cities. The article uses longitudinal data for South Africa to explore the magnitude of social progression among people living within informal settlements compared with rural areas and formal urban areas. It finds that there may be some advantage from living in an informal settlement compared with a rural area, but the effect is not strong. The impact may be larger in the more prosperous Gauteng city-region than in other urban regions.

Source: Human Science Research Council SA

DOI: 10.14749/32381841

Author: Human Sciences Research Council

Language: English

Topic: Urban and Rural Development Challenges

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities, No poverty

Open Access status: green

Funder: Human Sciences Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W7162190693

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