A Review of Spatial Mismatch Research: Empirical Debate, Theoretical Evolution and Connotation Expansion

At present, widespread urban expansion, regeneration, and transformation have inevitably led to the spatial separation of residence and employment, and negatively affected the employment welfare of the subjects concerned, which needs to be traced back to the theory of spatial mismatch to explore possible solutions. The theory of spatial mismatch has been proposed for more than sixty years, and its theoretical connotation has been continuously expanded through the heated debate on its objective existence. However, due to the lack of understanding of its expansion process and the essence of its theoretical connotation, its theoretical meaning is ambiguous and fails to truly guide its role in practice. Based on the structural analysis of the connotation of spatial mismatch, this study summarizes the theoretical evolution and empirical development of spatial mismatch from four levels: "objects of concern-influencing factors-spatial relations-consequential effects". It is found that after half a century of evolution, the study of spatial mismatch has formed a relatively perfect theoretical and methodological system, and in the process of expansion, spatial mismatch has been given a deeper meaning, which can provide an important theoretical and practical reference for solving the separation of residential and spatial resources and the resultant welfare loss effects.