Los usos de suelo como expresión de las dinámicas económicas y sociales que marcan procesos de segregación socioespacial en el Centro Histórico de Cuenca.

Abstract

The research is based on determining how food and beverage services contribute to the generation of socio-spatial segregation processes in the Historic Center of Cuenca. To this end, a methodology was proposed that relates two fundamental variables: the heritage value of the buildings and the land uses destined to such services. In the analysis, real or symbolic barriers expressed in supply strategies that characterize these services were identified. Likewise, it was understood how these variables influence the costs of services and their impact on socio-spatial segregation by limiting access to socioeconomic groups with low purchasing power. To quantify accessibility to facilities, an affordability index was created that considers those whose prices range between 0.01% and 5% of the Unified Basic Wage (UBS) as highly affordable, while those above 15% are inaccessible. The results revealed that those services inaccessible to lowincome people are concentrated around Calderon Park and Calle Larga. While moderately affordable services are mostly located towards the southern part of the study area and those that are fully accessible are located throughout the study area. These results clearly evidence the existence of social inequalities in specific areas of the Historic Center of Cuenca. Therefore, it is imperative to pay greater attention to the economic accessibility of services in order to reduce socioeconomic gaps and promote a more equitable distribution of resources in the city.