Permanence and change in urban segregation: Segregation trends in different neighbourhoods of Athens, 1991–2021

Over the past 30 years, Athens has transitioned from a relatively inclusive city into a financialised metropolis, moving from conservative protectionism and clientelism to liberalised and globalised socioeconomic conditions. The sovereign debt crisis severely impacted the city’s economy and the living conditions of most of its residents. Furthermore, in the aftermath of the crisis, touristification made the real estate market increasingly attractive to foreign investors and, at the same time, housing much less affordable for local low-income households. This article explores segregation trends in Athens associated with the processes, places and agents involved between 1991 and 2021. The investigation is based on detailed social data from small spatial units, allowing the analysis of segregation trends at the neighbourhood level. By exploring the segregation trends over 30 years in different parts of the city, this article highlights the potential differences in the temporality and spatiality of residential processes in Athens, using investigative methods beyond those usually employed in comparative segregation studies. This approach also reveals the differences between permanence and change in the evolution of these trends and their social outcomes.