Residential suburbanization’s consequences
on well being of suburban residents
Julia SCHUCHMANN
research assistant at Center for Regional Studies of Hungarian
Academy of Sciences
EUROGEO Conference 214
Malta
15-17, April, 2014
Research has been realised within the confines of TÁMOP 4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0069
Two aims of this lecture are:
• To present the characteristics of residential
suburbanization processes in the Budapest
Metropolitan Region during the last two decades
• To analyze the consequences of residential
suburbanization on social well being of inhabitants in
the Budapest Metropolitan Region based on empirical
research results
Methodology
1.) International and Hungarian scientific literatures regarding
the residential suburbanization and well being issues
2.) Analisis datas from two big empirical research projects:
– Sustainable Consumption Production and Communication„ The social
mechanism and interest determining consumption models. The model of
sustainable consumption” supported by the Norwegian funds, coordinated by
the Institute of Sociology Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and organized by
the Corvinus University.Project Leader: Prof. Viktoria Szirmai, Dsc.
–
Social conflicts-social well being and social security. Competitivity and social
development TÁMOP 4.2.2.A-11/1 KONV-0069 (2013-2015).
Research project Leader: Prof. Dr. Szirmai Viktória
Short introduction of Budapest Metropolitan Region
• Budapest and its metropolitan area
occupies only 3,3 % of the
countries whole territory but:
• It concentrates the 25% of total
population of Hungary (2,2 million
inhabitants)
• The economic role of the BMR
within the country is dominant:
• Here produces the 4 % of the
national GDP
• The amount of GDP/capita in the
BMR is 1,8 higher than the
national average
• The BMR is the only urban region
with over 1 million inhabitants
Characteristics of residential suburbanization in the Budapest
Metropolitan Region
• The urban development and suburbanisation are delayed in time comparison
to the Western European cities but has the same urban economic and soial
features (Enyedi, 1988; Enyedi 212.)
• The suburbanisation started in 1980 with a 20 years delay and intensified in
the 90’s.
• The process was helped by the development of free real estate market, the
effects of globalization, social change and economic policy
• During the last 20 years socio-economic relations between capital city and
outskirt areas have changed.
• Residential migration was remarkable from Budapest to suburban
municipalities but from 2OO7 a slow return to the city centre (a kind of
reurbanisation) has been emerged due to the inner cities rehabilitation
programs
• The residential suburbanization were differentietd by social and spatial
Negatives consequences of residential suburbanization on the
well-being of suburban population
a.) Social consequences:
 It contributes to the increasing of the social-spatial inequalities
 It contributes to the social segregation and exclusion (e.g „gated
commutnities”)
 It contributes to generate social conflicts (between former citizens and rural
peoples)
 The suburban lifestyle is quite „closed”, because of the commuting the
peoples don’t have time to participate in the communities
 Risques of obesity, and car crash ( car based lifestyle)
B.) Environmental consequences
 Wasteful land usage-decreasing green areas, growing build up areas
 Increasing volume of car usage and number of private cars=>contribution
to the CO2 emission
c.) Economic consequences
 The suburban lifestyle charges the housholds (higher transport costs) on
the one hand and the central and local governement ( infrastructural
development costs) on the other hands
The notion of the well-being
• Well-being is a general term to describe the social,
economic, mental or health status of an individual or
a group. We distinguish two types of well beingobjectives and subjective well being.
• How the suburbanization influences of the residents
well-being?
Answers based on hungarian empirical research results
about the Budapest Metropolitan Region
Changes in the Intention to move in the Budapest
Metropolitan Region,
2005, 2010, 2014 N=1000
• Hogyan kapcsolódik
77
80 össze a lakóhelyi
70
szuburbanizáció
100
86
90
83,5
60
50
40
30
15
20
10
8,8
10
0
2OO5
2O1O
Want to move
Source:
don't want to move
2O14
Evaluation of the social segregation by the respondants in
Budapest and its agglomeration area, 2014
(N=1000)
12,0
10,4
10,0
8,0
5,4
6,0
4,0
2,0
0,0
Budapest
agglomeration
How your life influences by the stress ?
(Scaling from 1-4)
(1= not at all; 4=very stressful)
N=1000
50
47
45
40
40
35
32
31
30
25
20
18
16
15
10
10
6
5
0
not in the least
a little bit
Budapest
moderate
Metropolitan region
very stressful
How often do you commute?
N=1000
0,5 4,3
5,3
50,9
39,0
less than a months
weekly
daily
several times per months
several times per week
What is your problem with the commuting?
N=1000
60
54,2
50
40
31
30
26
20
14
10
0
less time with my
family and friends
too expensive
less time to go out
less time for cultural
activities
Residents indebtedness in the Budapest Metropolitan
Region, 2014 N=1000
35
32
30
25,2
25
20
20
15
10
5
0
Budapest
agglomeration
Sample average
Conclusions
 During the last two decades one of the most spectacular urban
development trend was the residentuial suburabanization
which transformed the social spatial structure of Budapest
Metropolitan Region
 The residential suburbanization has several social,
environmental and economic consequences on the well- being
of the residents in terms of social conflicts, problem of
transportation etc.
 Based on the empirical research results between 2005, 2010,
2014 the intention to move has decreased in the Budapest
Metropolitan Region because of the effects of the global
economic crisis.
Thank you for your attention!