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Levels of residential segregation are rising in Finland, presenting a problem for the welfare state ethos. Architect Katriina Rosengren’s doctoral thesis investigates how urban planning policy deals with the 'problem' of segregation in Finland, contributing to the field of urban studies in Finland by bridging urban planning with sociology. 

The first part of the study analyzes differences in neighborhood perceptions in the Helsinki metropolitan area and the role of these perceptions in the segregation process. There are interlinkages between neighborhood satisfaction, socioeconomic status, and the share of social housing in neighborhoods. Additionally differences in neighborhood satisfaction exist by tenure status, with municipal tenants reporting lower neighborhood satisfaction, quality of life, and perceived safety than homeowners. While social mixing seems to have bridged the gap in spatial justice among different tenure groups, it has not managed to equalize neighborhood perceptions in the Helsinki metropolitan area. A suggested reason for the gap in perceptions among tenures is that social housing is clustered in the metropolitan area, despite policies aiming at balanced neighborhood development. 

The second part of the study concludes that while the segregation trajectory in the Helsinki metropolitan area is perceived as alarming and needing intervention, governance capacity is lacking: segregation is poorly articulated and yet to be institutionalized. Awareness of segregation depends on city size and urban policy framework. Where segregation is often named as a goal, it is less often translated into explicit actions in local policies. Segregation is mostly targeted with housing and land use policies, cornerstones of the local autonomy. This model works poorly in a situation where segregation is a regional issue. Governance capacity is also lacking on the state level, where housing policies affecting segregation are volatile. Insufficient governance capacity carries a risk: spatial inequalities may eventually become structural and cemented. The study therefore provides a potentially useful visualization of the segregation process and offers policy recommendations to respond to the worrying trend.

Keywords: Segregation; Social mixing; Social housing; Neighborhood satisfaction; Urban planning policy; Wicked problems

Title of thesis: Wicked problems and the welfare state: Segregation in Finnish urban planning policy

Doctoral student: Katriina Rsengren
Opponent: Professor Yuri Kazepov, University of Vienna, Austria
Custos: Professor Anssi Joutsiniemi, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Architecture

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at: 

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