Urban Poverty аs а Socio-Spatial Production Process: A Social-Geographical Framework
Abstract
Urban poverty is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon shaped by the interaction between social processes, the built environment, and governance structures. This study employs a qualitative analytical review from a socio-geographic perspective, synthesizing a selection of peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2026. Using an integrative framework with three dimensions spatial organization, socio-spatial determinants and territorial differentiation, and human-environment interactions the analysis interprets recurring spatial patterns, contextual mechanisms, and locally embedded interventions across urban cores, peri-urban zones, informal settlements, and marginalized neighborhoods. The findings indicate that deprivation is spatially concentrated rather than random, influenced by infrastructure availability, institutional arrangements, environmental exposure, and historical inequalities. Accessibility and connectivity emerge as key mediating mechanisms, shaping whether local opportunities translate into multidimensional poverty reduction. Socially and territorially embedded interventions, including participatory and philanthropic initiatives, are most effective when aligned with local spatial and institutional contexts. By integrating empirical evidence with socio-geographical interpretations, this study advances the understanding of territorially differentiated urban poverty. Practically, it underscores the importance of location-sensitive, multi-scale strategies that combine infrastructure development, equitable service delivery, and inclusive governance. It contributes both theoretically and methodologically by demonstrating how conceptually grounded qualitative analyses can yield coherent insights into the spatial patterns of urban poverty.
Keywords: Spatial inequality, informal settlements, connectivity, participatory governance, multidimensional vulnerability, territorial production, socio-spatial analysis
© 2026 Serbian Geographical Society, Belgrade, Serbia.
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