Diffusion and synchronization dynamics reveal the multi-scale patterns of spatial segregation

Abstract

Urban systems are characterized by populations with heterogeneous characteristics, and whose spatial distribution is crucial to understand inequalities in life expectancy or education level. Traditional studies on spatial segregation indicators focus often on first-neighbour correlations but fail to capture complex multi-scale patterns. In this work, we aim at characterizing the spatial distribution heterogeneity of socioeconomic features through diffusion and synchronization dynamics. In particular, we use the time needed to reach the synchronization as a proxy for the spatial heterogeneity of a socioeconomic feature, as for example, the income. Our analysis for 16~income categories in cities from the United States reveals that the spatial distribution of the most deprived and affluent citizens leads to higher diffusion and synchronization times. By measuring the time needed for a neighborhood to reach the global phase we are able to detect those that suffer from a steeper segregation. Overall, the present manuscript exemplifies how diffusion and synchronization dynamics can be used to assess the heterogeneity in the presence of node information.

18 pages, 15 Figures

References in corpus (11)

• Synchronization in complex networks
• Diffusion dynamics on multiplex networks
• Random walks and diffusion on networks
• Network Synchronization, Diffusion, and the Paradox of Heterogeneity
• Paths to Synchronization on Complex Networks
• Synchronization processes in complex networks
• Inequality is rising where social network segregation interacts with urban topology
• Synchronizability determined by coupling strengths and topology on Complex Networks
• Diffusion geometry unravels the emergence of functional clusters in collective phenomena
• Diffusive behavior of multiplex networks
• Diffusion geometry of multiplex and interdependent systems