Neighborhood effects: explorations about a sociological concept

Abstract

“Neighborhood effects” are understood in sociological literature as the socioeconomic benefits or disadvantages that affect some social group according localization on social space of the cities. The hypothesis from neighborhood effects don’t presuppose a deterministic action from space to social relationships, but explores the interrelationships between spatial characteristics (such as urban infrastructure, neighborhood characteristics, public services offer) and the characteristics of social groups (profile of the group and nature of internal and external interactions). This article has as aim to discuss the possible neighborhood effect about the relationship between groups socially distant, through data from a fieldwork on a slum in Belo Horizonte, called Aglomerado da Serra, that has high and medium-income neighbors. From such case, we intend to arise the main questions around the theme and investigate if physic closeness can result in positive or negative effects to these populations and the nature of social interactions between district and slum dwellers.