At GEMOTT, we’re very pleased to share the first publication by Pablo Villar Abeijón: “Can pedestrianization trigger gentrification? Analysis of Barcelona’s sociodemographic changes following pedestrianization schemes”, co-authored with Carme MirallesGuasch and Oriol Marquet, and published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment.
ABSTRACT:
Research Question
Have pedestrianization projects in Barcelona triggered sociodemographic changes that could be interpreted as gentrification?
Data and Methods
Using a mapping of pedestrianization interventions (2012–2020) and longitudinal population register data (2009–2023), we applied Difference-in-Differences and Mixed Models to isolate the effect of pedestrianization on sociodemographic changes at the census section level.
Findings
Compared to non-intervened areas, pedestrianized zones have experienced:
🔼 A greater increase in residents from Europe and the US.
🔼 A greater increase in residents with higher education levels.
🔽 A more pronounced decrease in older residents (65+).
Conclusions
These population shifts align with definitions of gentrification in the academic literature, suggesting that pedestrianization projects can trigger or reinforce ongoing gentrification processes.
We emphasize the importance of acknowledging the unintended consequences of pedestrianization schemes and contributing to the debate on the social impacts of active mobility policies.
Congratulations, Pablo!
