Gentrification, Social Justice and Personal Ethics

Bibliographic Data

ID4382014
AuthorsPeter Marcuse (Professor emeritus, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University New York 10027 NY United States, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume39
Issue6
Pages1263-1269
Publication date2015-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Urban and Regional Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0309-1317 • E-ISSN: 1468-2427
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1468-2427.12319
OpenAlexW2346105463
LanguageEN
Citations received48

Gentrification, leading to displacement, is an increasingly recognized social problem. Individuals who are confronted with tight housing possibilities but have adequate incomes confront personal ethical issues on whether to act in ways that may contribute to displacement of lower-income residents, and researchers working on housing issues may be particularly concerned. In order to work out an ethical position, clarity is first needed on the differences among the various aspects of gentrification. The working definition used here is that gentrification includes the danger of displacement. A public policy response is thus required to deal with its social injustices. Specific steps are suggested for the development of such policy. Secondly, the suggestion is made that the individual choice of whether to move in or not is, importantly, a personal ethical choice and should take into account both the economic and political impact of the move itself but also the contribution that can be made through collective and political action by an in-mover to deal with the injustices of gentrification. However, it is also an ethical choice for the professions involved and their associations

CLARITY · Economic growth · Economic Justice · Economics · Gentrification · Mainstream · Political science · Politics · Public policy · Sociology · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Law · Psychology · Urban Planning and Governance