Spatial Patterns of Local Income Inequalities

Ibolya TÖRÖK1, József BENEDEK1
1 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Centre for Sustainable Development, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
E-mail: ibolya.torok@ubbcluj.ro, jozsef.benedek@ubbcluj.ro
Pages: 77-91

Abstract. The main aim of this study is to describe the spatial patterns of local income inequalities by employing techniques of spatial exploratory data analysis. Global and local measures of spatial autocorrelation were computed in order to obtain estimates for the existing spatial autocorrelation at the local income level. Using this information, we determined the spatial clusters of significantly auto-correlated local income distribution. The first major result of the paper consists in the measurement of the local income levels, an innovative contribution to the advancement in this field since there are no official statistics on local level economic data in Romania. The second major result of the paper consists in the identification and delineation of specific spatial structures at high spatial resolution. It enables the precise designation of peripheral regions for spatial planning interventions. The third major outcome of the paper brings empirical evidence for the existence of highly significant spatial interactions and for the strong spatial interconnections between areas of similar local income levels.

K e y w o r d s:  local income, inequality, spatial clusters of income distribution, exploratory spatial data analysis, Romania