John F. Kain

He is notable for first hypothesising spatial mismatch theory, whereby he argued that there are insufficient job opportunities in low-income household areas.

[1] It is said that during his time at college that he developed is intense interest in the intersection of geography, schools, and race, due to witnessing severe racism towards classmates during the 1950s and 1960s.

[4] Kain also used findings from his research on job and home location to construct computer simulation equilibrium models of urban housing markets.

This information was compiled from many sources into a longitudinal database to provide individual records on school completion and employment history.

The spatial mismatch hypothesis refers to the lack of job opportunities in low income, African American household areas.

The factors contributing to the spatial mismatch phenomenon include potential workers' accessibility and initiatives, and employers' cognitive biases surrounding the negative stigma of minorities when hiring.

The spatial mismatch hypothesis was extended in 1987 by William Julius Wilson, who researched the role of economic restructuring and the departure of the African American middle class in the shaping of the ghetto lower-class.

Kain claimed that urban transportation systems are more successful with buses than trains due to public regulation hindering innovation.

[1] Kain also held the Cecil and Ida Green Chair for the Study of Science and Society and Director of the Cecil and Ida Green Center for the Study of Science and Society at UT Dallas, as well as concurrently holding a position as Professor of Economics and Professor of Political Economy at UT Dallas.