Where and How Do Swiss and Foreigners Live? Segregation in the Geneva and Zurich Housing Markets

Abstract

In this paper, we measure with a series of standard indicators the degree of residential segregation of the Swiss and foreign population in the urban canton of Geneva and the city of Zurich. We show that there is relatively little segregation, but that the education level (as a proxy for the socio-economic status) should be taken into account. We also compare the quality of the dwellings and neighbourhoods in which the Swiss and the foreigners live. As a general result, foreigners enjoy lesser residential comfort, but the differences are relatively small. In companion papers, we show that the lesser comfort is not fully compensated by lower rents.

Keywords: residential segregation, rental market, dissimilarity index, exposure index

JEL Classification: J7, D39