The Urban Institute has a long history of objective research on the persistence of racial and ethnic discrimination in urban housing markets, and the role of discrimination in sustaining patterns of residential segregation. Future projects will yield new insights about the implications of residential settlement patterns. Jobs and Economic Development in Metropolitan Communities . Through field research, researchers are gaining a greater understanding of regional economies and labor markets. This research focuses on strategies for strengthening linkages between poor, inner-city communities and employment opportunities in the larger metropolitan labor market.
Projects also investigate the changing role of central cities in their regional economies.
Indicators of Neighborhood Health and Change . Working in partnership with local organizations in seven metropolitan areas, researchers are assembling current and reliable data on neighborhood conditions and trends, and exploring how these data can help inform action at the community level. Exploratory projects are identifying innovative methods for assessing the role of arts and culture in urban communities, along with other unconventional indicators of neighborhood well-being.