High blood lead levels in children in Flint, Michigan were obscured in part because of an outdated method of studying public health -- the ZIP code. Here's why we need to make use of a better way.
The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) in the news!
This was a sobering read for me, since I’m a geographer that does spatial analysis most of the time at the ZIP code level.
In the ZIP code’s (or ZCTA’s) defense I will say this: ZIP codes offer a nice balance between being something most people know about, but can also serve as an area unit smaller than county level making geographers like me happy.
Sometimes it’s just the easiest choice for all parties involved. But this article reminds me that just because it’s easy for everyone doesn’t mean it’s to everyone’s benefit.
