Evaluating Public Space through Inequality Public Space and Socio-spatial Differentiation in Curitiba, Brazil
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Abstract
Public space is a fundamental component of urban life, supporting social interaction, collective activities, and democratic coexistence. However, its distribution within cities is uneven, often reflecting and reinforcing socio-spatial inequalities. A key challenge in public space research is developing methods that link its physical availability to broader socioeconomic conditions. This article addresses this issue by examining the relationship between the land allocation of public space and household income in Curitiba, Brazil. The study builds on the development of the Public Space Coefficient (PSC), an indicator that measures the proportion of physical public space - streets, squares, and parks - relative to the total area of a given territorial unit. Using census data and intra-urban divisions, the PSC is compared with income levels to identify patterns of social and spatial inequality. The results show that the relationship between public space and income is not absent but varies by the type of space considered. While streets are widely distributed and dominate the aggregate indicator, they primarily reflect basic urbanization conditions, masking deeper inequalities. In contrast, squares exhibit a stronger association with income levels, with lower-income areas showing significant deficits. Parks, although unevenly distributed, are more influenced by territorial constraints than by socioeconomic patterns. These findings demonstrate that aggregate measures of public space can hide structural inequalities if different types are not examined separately. The study emphasizes that public space allocation should be understood as an unevenly distributed urban resource, and that disaggregated indicators are essential for revealing socio-spatial disparities. By linking spatial metrics to social variables, the article contributes to the development of more precise analytical tools and supports more equitable urban planning strategies.
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