The Blind Spot Effect: Structural Exclusion at the Edge of Prosperity in a Global Context

The Blind Spot Effect is introduced as a new socio-spatial concept describing communities that are visible yet excluded—places physically adjacent to hubs of prosperity but structurally barred from sharing in that wealth. Unlike remote “left-behind” areas, these inner peripheries sit in the shadow of economic success (such as booming city districts, tech corridors or national infrastructure) while enduring persistent deprivation. Drawing on comparative case studies from the UK, USA, France, Argentina, India and South Africa, the article shows how administrative boundaries, flawed metrics and stigmatizing narratives create pockets of exclusion at the edge of prosperity and proposes policy reforms to correct this blind spot.