Inequality is rising where social network segregation interacts with urban topology

This paper investigates the interplay between social network structure, urban geography, and income inequality. Analyzing a Hungarian online social network, the study reveals that social network fragmentation is significantly higher in towns with physical barriers (rivers, railroads) dividing neighborhoods and where amenities are spatially concentrated. A two-stage model demonstrates that these geographic features contribute significantly to income inequality through their impact on social network fragmentation, suggesting a compounding effect of geographic features and economic inequalities via social networks.

Gergő Tóth, Johannes Wachs, Riccardo Di Clemente, Ákos Jakobi, Bence Ságvári, János Kertész, Balázs Lengyel