Resumen
In several publications between 1998 and 2003, Elizabeth Burton examined whether urban compactness promotes social equity. Based on an extensive literature review, Burton developed numerous urban compactness and social equity measures. Using a sample of 25 free-standing English cities of different sizes, her studies found that urban compactness measures are often statistically correlated with social equity measures in these cities. Extending Burton?s studies, this study explores the correlations between the measures of street networks, urban compactness, and social equity in the same 25 cities that Burton studied. Correlational analyses revealed that street network measures are correlated differently with different urban compactness and social equity measures. Some street network measures are not statistically correlated with social equity and urban compactness measures. Some are statistically correlated with urban compactness measures, but not with social equity measures. Yet others are statistically correlated with social equity measures, but not with urban compactness. Still others are statistically correlated with both social equity and urban compactness measures. Therefore, it was concluded that spatial mechanisms may work differently for different aspects of social equity. The implications of these findings are discussed.