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Impacts of globalisation on the adoption of remote work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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  • Eiichi Tomiura
  • Banri Ito

Abstract

Globalised firms manage face‐to‐face contacts for distant communications. Based on our survey on the responses of Japanese firms to the COVID‐19 pandemic, we find that firms that exported, imported, or directly invested abroad more before the pandemic tend to adopt remote work significantly more frequently during the pandemic. We confirm this relationship even after controlling for compositions of occupations, and various firm attributes. The effect of arm's‐length trade, not intra‐firm trade, is especially evident. These suggest that pre‐pandemic experiences in coordinating across borders are likely to facilitate the adoption of remote work during the pandemic.

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  • Eiichi Tomiura & Banri Ito, 2024. "Impacts of globalisation on the adoption of remote work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID‐19 pandemic," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 957-982, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:worlde:v:47:y:2024:i:3:p:957-982
    DOI: 10.1111/twec.13474
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    Cited by:

    1. Tomiura, Eiichi & Kumanomido, Hiroshi, 2023. "Impacts of inter-firm relations on the adoption of remote work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Tanaka, Kiyoyasu, 2023. "What hinders digital communication? Evidence from foreign firms in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

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