Social Inequality and Urban Transformation: A Scopus Review of Global Research

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive Scopus-based review of global research on social inequality and urban transformation, examining how scholarly debates have evolved in response to rapid urbanization, neoliberal restructuring, and shifting socio-spatial dynamics. Drawing on peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus, the review systematically maps thematic trends, methodological approaches, geographical distributions, and theoretical frameworks that shape contemporary understandings of inequality in urban contexts. The analysis reveals that research has increasingly focused on gentrification, housing precarity, spatial segregation, environmental injustice, and the informal economy, with strong representation from North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, while scholarship from the Global South remains comparatively underrepresented despite its critical empirical relevance. The findings indicate a growing interdisciplinary convergence, integrating perspectives from urban sociology, human geography, planning studies, economics, and environmental studies. Quantitative spatial analyses and GIS-based methods are frequently combined with qualitative case studies to illuminate the lived experiences of marginalized populations. The review also highlights the influence of theoretical paradigms such as neoliberal urbanism, right-to-the-city discourse, and spatial justice in framing contemporary research. However, notable gaps persist, particularly in comparative cross-regional studies and in long-term analyses of policy outcomes. Overall, this study synthesizes existing knowledge to clarify dominant narratives and emerging directions in the field. By identifying conceptual, methodological, and geographical imbalances, it provides a foundation for future research aimed at fostering more inclusive and equitable urban transformation processes worldwide.