Donatas Burneika

Abstract

The article aims to analyse the renovation of housing estates in postsocialist cities. Two cities with different share of housing estates and public support system, Vilnius and Budapest are in the focus of the analysis. The renovation of housing estates is a new process in both of them; it started only in the 2000s and its outcome is far from spectacular. The most important and most common type of renovation activities is the insulation of blocks of flats because it significantly decreases the utility costs. The article investigates whether and how the social and physical characteristics of housing estates influence their renovation. The size, age, type, spatial location all have some impact on the renovation level. The authors point out that the necessity of renovation and its costs depend on the physical characteristics of the buildings but the opportunity for renovation derives from the ability to finance it. Consequently, the social status of the inhabitants and the availability of state support are of crucial importance. The findings of the analysis indicate that different combinations of state support and social status result in very different renovation activities in the two cities.

Keywords: housing estate, urban renewal, Budapest, Vilnius

Balázs Szabó [szabo.balazs@csfk.org], Geographical Institute Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences Budaörsi út 45, 1112 Budapest: Hungary
Donatas Burneika [donatas.geo@gmail.com], Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology

Abstract

The paper analyses two interrelated fields: residential differentiation in the Vilnius metropolitan area on the basis of socio-economic status and of political alignment. Data from the 2001 and 2011 censuses were used to investigate socio-economic and ethnic segregation and data from the parliamentary elections of 2000 and 2012 were used for the analysis of political alignment. Indices of segregation and isolation were calculated, and the main occupational groups were used as a proxy for socio-economic status. GIS tools were used to visualise existing spatial differences. Though most indices indicated quite low levels of segregation, the situation was changing. The wealthiest and poorest groups tend to live more and more separately. The political preferences of the different social groups differ and differentiation of political field is increasing. The paper reveals socio-political spatial interrelations in the metropolitan area which have a unique ethnic structure. Our findings suggest that socio-economic structure is a major factor determining the degree of differentiation of electoral alignment in the metropolitan area. The different political preferences of the different ethnic groups could be related not simply to ethnicity but rather to socio-economic status.

Keywords: Vilnius, metropolitan area, social segregation, electoral segregation, electoral differentiation, postcommunist city, residential differentiation

Donatas Burneika [donatas.geo@gmail.com], Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology
Aušra Baranauskaitė, Lithuanian Social Research Centre Institute of Human Geography and Demography A. Goštauto g. 11, LT-01108 Vilnius : Lithuania
Rūta Ubarevičienė, Institute of Human Geography and Demography Lithuanian social research center Goštauto 11, LT-01108 Vilnius: Lithuania