Examining the Interplay of Remote Work, Economic Complexity, and City Structure in How People Travel at the Individual Level and a Metropolitan Scale

Research Team: Marta Gonzalez (lead)

UC Campus(es): UC Berkeley

Problem Statement: Post-pandemic travel is being shaped by three important and interrelated factors: (i) work-from-home (i.e., telecommuting) alters daily commutes, (ii) regional economic complexity determines telecommuting potential, and (iii) city structure differentiates the spatial distribution of teleworkers, remote jobs, and amenities. Despite a growing understanding of changes in individual travel behavior, little is known on a regional scale about possible "new normal" mobility scenarios and trajectories as they unfold over the long term.

Project Description: Building on existing studies, this research project leverages location-based data to dissect the interplay of work-from-home, regional economic complexity, and city structure in reshaping the commuting dynamics of California's major metro areas. Specifically, the analyses will (i) apply comprehensive mobility metrics to examine longitudinal and cross-population telecommuter behavior, and (ii) propose novel measures to characterize regional telecommuting dynamics based on industry diversity and sophistication, and urban spatial structure. These parameters offer critical insights into metropolitan dynamics driven by shifting individual mobility under an emerging work-from-home economy.

Status: In Progress

Budget: $90,000