Spatial structure and disparities: a possible link?

Communication presented byDenis Y. CHARLEBOIS, B.Sc (agr.), M.A.Under the direction of Serge GAGNON, Ph.D., Geography

At the Grand Ouest Conference on Territorial Intelligence

Nantes-Rennes, March, 2010

A word about disparities

Types of disparities

Differentiated territorial actors

Space: a differentiated structure of positions

Relation between spatial structure and disparities

Interpretation

Conclusion

Contents

Presque toutes les révolutions qui ont changé la face des peuples ont été faites pour consacrer ou pour détruire l’égalité.Écartez les causes secondaires qui ont produit les grandes agitations des hommes, vous en arriverez presque toujours à l’inégalité.

De Tocqueville, A. (1840); De la démocratie en Amérique, Tome 2, chapitre XXI. Librairie philosophique J. Vrin, 1990.

A word about disparities

Economic

Social

Environmental

Cultural

Types of disparities

Ratio median income to average income

The indicator of economic disparities chosen

An essential: the capacity to control one’s mobility

Humans: all nomads, at various degrees

Factors affecting the capacity to control mobility:AgeHealthRichnessEducationEmployment statusetc.

Differentiated territorial actors:nomads and sedentaries

The territory generation path in 3 times:geoanthropologic, geopolitic, geoeconomic

GA: Between utilitary and esthetic, the values invested in the land

GP: A fight for the appropriation or control of geographic positions

GE: The necessity to pay for the « situation rent »

Space: a differentiated structure of positions

The study zone: Montérégie-Estrie in Québec (Canada)

Elements of T1: geoanthropologic

• Localized Imaginary

• Symbolic anchors

• Prospective vision

•Esthetic

•Cultural

•Utilitary

Values associated with places:

T1 - Synthesis map of valorisations

Indicator map: the old representations

Elements of T2: geopolitic

• Land rights

• Land-use orientations

• Actors’ capacity of actions

• High

• Madium

• Low

Territorial capacity of action:

T2 - Synthesis map of the capacity of action

Elements of T3: geoeconomic

• Nature of development

• State of the occuoancies

• Recreation

• Mixed

• Production

Types of usages:

T3 - Synthesis map of usages

General synthesis map

Consecration territory

Exploitation territory

Territory of cohabitation

Relation between disparities and spatial structure

2006,R=0,4722

1986,R=0,4089

n=23266

Where the spatial structure is more of the kind “consecration”, the disparities in income are higher;

Where the spatial structure is more of the kind “exploitation”, the disparities in income are lower;

The relation is stronger in 2006 than in 1986.

Interpretation

This study has examined a possibility of a relation between income disparities and the spatial structure in the region of Montérégie/Estrie in Québec.

There is a significant correlation between the two series of numbers, and it is stronger after a period of 20 years..

The increase in the strength of the correlation could be an indicator of the relation.

However, it cannot be inferred by these data that there is a causal effect between the two phenomena, although there is one in the sequence of the concept underlying the spatial structure, the territory generation path.

More research will have to be performed on the issue before we will be able to state definitely on the question.

Conclusion

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