Inequalities in accessibility to daily opportunities in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte (Brazil)

Abstract

Despite the historical core-periphery urbanization pattern marked by profound inequalities in Latin American cities, the emergence of new suburban structures may introduce more complex dynamics of accessibility. In this study, we conduct a novel investigation into inequalities in accessibility to non-work urban opportunities in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH), utilizing a combined analysis of a cumulative opportunity accessibility indicator and population distribution to assess both social and spatial discrepancies. The findings reveal that low-income households experience significantly lower accessibility to urban opportunities, while the development of new suburban structures results in high accessibility levels in high-income neighborhoods. These results highlight two contrasting processes of segregation: low-income groups being displaced to distant peripheral areas with limited accessibility, while high-income groups settling in low-density residential developments with abundant motorized accessibility to nearby opportunities.