The role of relocation policies in urban segregation dynamics

This study addresses a gap in the existing literature on the Schelling segregation model by conducting a comprehensive qualitative assessment of various relocation policies. We introduce novel Schelling models driven by different relocation policies and analyse their impact on the convergence time and final segregation levels. Our findings demonstrate that all policies result in segregation levels within bounds established by policies where agents relocate to maximize their happiness. Notably, a policy ensuring the minimum improvement in agent segregation significantly reduces the model’s convergence time. These results underscore the potential influence of relocation policies, such as those employed by online recommenders in real estate platforms, on societal segregation dynamics. The study provides valuable insights into potential strategies for mitigating and decelerating segregation through tailored recommendations.