Environmental quality and concern in selected neighborhoods in Stockholm Municipality

Abstract

Three different neighborhoods in Stockholm Municipality were chosen to compare whether lower income groups had less or more concern on the environment than high income neighborhoods. These districts were Ostermalm (High income), Hammarby Sjostad (Middle income) and Rinkeby (low income). These municipalities were located on different part of the cities. Hammarby and Rinkeby are located on the West of Stockholm while Ostermalm is in the centre.

Between 1965 and 1974, Swedish government launched a programme called "Million programmes". It was an ambitious plan to provide every Swedish a home at a reasonable price. Rinkeby was one of the districts that were built under the Million Programme among other districts. On the other hand, generally speaking, Ostermalm municipality has always been for a high income group. Finally, Hammarby was a municipality built by the government to house the growing demand for urban living from the public. Hammarby was built for all income groups; high, middle, low. This area was also design to be sustainable in the 3 dimension; economically, socially and environmentally. However this area was gentrified. As a result, middle class people moved into Hammarby and lower class moved out to other districts in the city. Gentrification is a change in the social, economic conditions where poorer resident had to move out and they're being replaced by middle-class and professional groups1.