Spatial Segregation, Socioeconomic Disparities and Spatial (in)Justice in a Region of the Mediterranean

In recent decades, interest in residential segregation has increased in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, primarily due to immigration. This study explores segregation and its potential links to socioeconomic disparities and social (in)justice. The analysis uses standard segregation indicators, along with their spatial counterparts, and employs permutation tests for inference. These methods are applied to the province of Pescara, a Mediterranean city in Southern Italy, to also explore segregation differences between urban and rural areas. Finally, we discuss how this approach can assist policymakers in identifying segregation pockets in rural outskirts and prevent potential spatial (in)justices and socioeconomic disparities affecting ethnic minorities.