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Remote work and location preferences: a study of post-pandemic trends in Italy

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Listed:
  • Thea Jansen

    (Gran Sasso Science Institute)

  • Andrea Ascani

    (Gran Sasso Science Institute)

  • Alessandra Faggian

    (Gran Sasso Science Institute)

  • Alessandro Palma

    (Gran Sasso Science Institute)

Abstract

This study investigates how working remotely, by reducing workplace commuting, weakens the limitations connected to residential mobility and enables Tiebout sorting. We focus on the Italian context, where a strong culture of in-person workplace attendance limits workers’ ability to live farther from their workplace. We leverage the natural experiment of COVID-19 containment measures to shed light on the spatial implications of an increased remote work adoption. We overcome the unavailability of official data by collecting primary data in early 2022 through an original survey of our design on a sample of workers in 12 metropolitan areas. To address the challenges of analyzing the phenomenon in a still-developing context, we ask questions on both their actual and intended moving behavior in relation to remote work availability. Using a case–control study design, we find significant evidence that expecting to work remotely more frequently in the long term increases the likelihood of being interested in moving, or having done so already since the pandemic outbreak.

Suggested Citation

  • Thea Jansen & Andrea Ascani & Alessandra Faggian & Alessandro Palma, 2024. "Remote work and location preferences: a study of post-pandemic trends in Italy," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 73(3), pages 897-944, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:73:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s00168-024-01295-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-024-01295-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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