Population distribution in an ethno-ideologically divided city: The case of Jerusalem

Abstract

Jerusalem is an extreme case of ethnic segregation or an ethno-ideologically divided city. Studying such a city can help determine what are the effects of segregation on urban development. This paper examines the distribution of population within the city of Jerusalem and changes in its population density between 1972 and 1983, by estimating a polycentric exponential population density function and testing various hypotheses that represent alternative urban structures, while implementing various improvements of the standard statistical techniques. The Jewish and Arab sectors differ markedly in their socioeconomic characteristics. The population density gradients in the two sectors are different, though a polycentric or segregated structure is rejected. The changes that have occurred in the density gradients of the Jewish and Arab sectors between I972 and 1983 are those predicted for a developed and a developing country city, respectively, but are not statistically significant. Additionally the map of regression residuals is discussed. The monocentric population distribution is centered on the Damascus Gate implying that infrastructure and housing vintage factors may be most important in determining the macro-scale distribution of population in the city.