The research reported in this paper is situated at within a set of contemporary literatures concerning the spatial development of large urban areas, within the context of the ongoing restructuring of urban employment and housing markets.

This positioning paper outlines an AHURI research project which will examine the effects of urban economic change on the western region of Melbourne, focusing specifically on local labour and housing markets. The specific concern of the study will be how changes in the dynamics of labour and housing markets may be alleviating social disadvantage in...