The Relationship Between Zoning Policies, Racialized Economic Segregation and Life Expectancy Across Census Tracts in...

Racial segregation is a recognized cause of racial health disparities. One factor that has contributed to racial segregation is municipal zoning policies that exclude people of color and those of low income from advantaged residential neighborhoods. Few studies have explicitly explored the relationship between zoning policies and health. Using data on zoning policies in Chicago in 1923 and 2012, we examined inequities in life expectancy across census tracts in relation to the proportion of land in each tract zoned for specific purposes.

For each Chicago census tract, we obtained data on historical and current zoning policies and current health outcomes and life expectancy. Using regression analysis and structural equation modeling, we examined the relationship between zoning policies and life expectancy and possible mediators of this relationship.

Life expectancy across 694 census tracts in Chicago varied from a low of 59.9 years to a high of 90.0 years. The greatest predictor of differences in life expectancy across census tracts was the degree of racialized economic advantage. Zoning policies in both 1923 and 2012 were significantly related to life expectancy, and this relationship was mediated by differences in racialized economic advantage. The structural equation model had a root mean square error of approximation of 0.064, a Tucker-Lewis index of 0.960, a confirmatory fit index of 0.973, and a standardized root mean square residual of 0.048.

Zoning policy is significantly related to life expectancy, a relationship mediated by racialized economic advantage. Both past and modern-day exclusionary zoning policies appear to be associated with current health outcomes. These findings suggest that zoning reform could be one possible mechanism for redress if it gives specific attention to decreasing concentrated advantage and creating opportunities for Black households to build wealth.