The Pandemic and Changing Patterns of Segregation in America

The following presents patterns of “experienced segregation”—interaction between groups in daily life—across time and space based on mobile phone data. Constructing a spatial interaction network for the Bay Area and New York City, we identify changing structure—marked by falling degree centrality and network density—and rising segregation. Expanding to the 100 largest metropolitan areas in America, we find mixed results, but a subtle relationship between significant changes to the network and segregation.