Urban Informal Settlements and Access to Public Services: A Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37899/mjds.v2i4.226Keywords:
Accessibility, Informal Settlements, Public Service Delivery, Socioeconomic Inequality, Surabaya, Urban GovernanceAbstract
Urban informal settlements continue to experience substantial disparities in accessing essential public services despite rapid urban development. This study aims to examine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on public service accessibility among households living in informal settlements in Surabaya, Indonesia. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 210 households selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to evaluate the effects of household income, educational attainment, and employment status on access to public services. The findings reveal that all three socioeconomic variables significantly affect public service accessibility, with household income representing the strongest predictor. Higher levels of education and formal employment also contribute positively to improved service accessibility. These results demonstrate that inequalities in public service provision are closely associated with socioeconomic conditions rather than infrastructure availability alone. The study highlights the importance of integrating infrastructure development with poverty alleviation, educational advancement, and employment policies to achieve more equitable and sustainable urban governance in rapidly growing cities.
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