An Alternate Approach to the Development of a Distance-Based Measure of Racial Segregation.

A new approach to the development of a distance-based measure of segregation is described. The index, termed the modified distance based index (MDBI), is similar in structure to Jakubs's (1981) recently introduced distance-based index, but for purposes of standardization it employs a different definition of complete segregation. The MDBI is algebraically specified in terms of the index of dissimilarity and its properties are described. It is suggested that an unstandardized measure, termed the spatial dissimilarity index (SD), is useful to describe the development of segregation in a city. The utility of these indexes is demonstrated by charting the progress of segregation in Philadelphia between 1950 and 1970.