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Going Remote: How the Flexible Work Economy Can Improve Our Lives and Our Cities
A leading urban economist's hopeful study of how shifts to remote work can change all of our lives for the better.
As COVID-19 descended upon the country in 2020, millions of American office workers transitioned to working from home to reduce risk of infection and prevent spread of the virus. In the aftermath of this shift, a significant number of workers remain at least partially remote. It is clear that this massive experiment we were forced to run will have long-term consequences, changing the shape of our personal and work lives, as well as the urban landscape around us. How will the rise of telecommuting affect workers' quality of life, the profitability of firms, and the economic geography of our cities and suburbs? Going Remote addresses the uncertainties and possibilities of this moment.
In Going Remote , urban economist Matthew E. Kahn takes readers on a journey through the new remote-work economy, revealing how people will configure their lives when they have more freedom to choose where they work and how they live. Melding ideas from labor economics, family economics, the theory of the firm, and urban economics, Kahn paints a realistic picture of the future for workers, firms, and urban areas, big and small. As Kahn shows, the rise of remote work presents especially valuable opportunities for flexibility and equity in the lives of women, minorities, and young people, and even for those whose jobs do not allow them to work from home. Uncovering key implications for our quality of life, Going Remote demonstrates how the rise of remote work can significantly improve the standard of living for millions of people by expanding personal freedom, changing the arc of how we live, work, and play.
As COVID-19 descended upon the country in 2020, millions of American office workers transitioned to working from home to reduce risk of infection and prevent spread of the virus. In the aftermath of this shift, a significant number of workers remain at least partially remote. It is clear that this massive experiment we were forced to run will have long-term consequences, changing the shape of our personal and work lives, as well as the urban landscape around us. How will the rise of telecommuting affect workers' quality of life, the profitability of firms, and the economic geography of our cities and suburbs? Going Remote addresses the uncertainties and possibilities of this moment.
In Going Remote , urban economist Matthew E. Kahn takes readers on a journey through the new remote-work economy, revealing how people will configure their lives when they have more freedom to choose where they work and how they live. Melding ideas from labor economics, family economics, the theory of the firm, and urban economics, Kahn paints a realistic picture of the future for workers, firms, and urban areas, big and small. As Kahn shows, the rise of remote work presents especially valuable opportunities for flexibility and equity in the lives of women, minorities, and young people, and even for those whose jobs do not allow them to work from home. Uncovering key implications for our quality of life, Going Remote demonstrates how the rise of remote work can significantly improve the standard of living for millions of people by expanding personal freedom, changing the arc of how we live, work, and play.
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
264 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2022
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63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 1, 2023
Going Remote : How the Flexible Work Economy Can Improve Our Lives and Our Cities (2022) by Matthew E Kahn looks at the impact that work from home (WFH) is probably going to have. Kahn is a Professor of economics at the University of Southern California.
WFH is likely to have a huge impact on how people live. Many high paid office jobs were tied to being as near as possible to certain places, such as New York City, Washington DC, Seattle, Sydney or Silicon Valley. The ability to WFH changes this massively. For many people it will at least be possible to live further away due to fewer days commuting and perhaps to live further away and rarely go to the office at all.
Going Remote looks at these trends. Kahn estimates that 35% of US workers can work remotely some or all of the time.
The book has three sections, the first looking at workers and remote work. First short term gains and then longer term gains. The Firms and how they will change is examined. Then there is a Locations section that looks at the rise of remote work and its impact on superstar cities and then on the opportunities for other areas. Finally the book’s conclusion summarises the ideas.
Kahn looks at how rush hour can be ameliorated by remote work, with perhaps 1/3 of those who would go in on a particular day not commuting and also by delaying commutes as the first hour of work could be performed at home. The improvement to home life is also described. The impact on the suburbs that this should have is discussed.
Kahn also looks at how WFH may help women and minorities. Another interesting aspect of remote work that Kahn looks at is whether it could help US rust belt cities revitalise. Kahn brings up the example of Baltimore, which is very cheap and near Washington, as a place that remote work could potentially change.
Going Remote is a good book that looks at what is likely to be an incredibly important phenomena. It’s definitely worth a read.
WFH is likely to have a huge impact on how people live. Many high paid office jobs were tied to being as near as possible to certain places, such as New York City, Washington DC, Seattle, Sydney or Silicon Valley. The ability to WFH changes this massively. For many people it will at least be possible to live further away due to fewer days commuting and perhaps to live further away and rarely go to the office at all.
Going Remote looks at these trends. Kahn estimates that 35% of US workers can work remotely some or all of the time.
The book has three sections, the first looking at workers and remote work. First short term gains and then longer term gains. The Firms and how they will change is examined. Then there is a Locations section that looks at the rise of remote work and its impact on superstar cities and then on the opportunities for other areas. Finally the book’s conclusion summarises the ideas.
Kahn looks at how rush hour can be ameliorated by remote work, with perhaps 1/3 of those who would go in on a particular day not commuting and also by delaying commutes as the first hour of work could be performed at home. The improvement to home life is also described. The impact on the suburbs that this should have is discussed.
Kahn also looks at how WFH may help women and minorities. Another interesting aspect of remote work that Kahn looks at is whether it could help US rust belt cities revitalise. Kahn brings up the example of Baltimore, which is very cheap and near Washington, as a place that remote work could potentially change.
Going Remote is a good book that looks at what is likely to be an incredibly important phenomena. It’s definitely worth a read.
August 26, 2023
Uh...I honestly can't remember why I was so excited about this book when I bought it 6 months ago. I think I thought the author would try to weave the data more into a story. But instead he just dryly explains recent economic studies related to working remotely.
March 24, 2023
Going Remote: How the Flexible Work Economy Can Imporve Our Lives and Our Cities is a good analysis of the work from home phenomenon and Mattew E. Kahn really examines all aspects of it. I would really recommend it to Economics/Mangement students who are looking for materials for their thesis since its well-written and concise.
The only big downside for me is that it feels that the research is more focused on corporate USA and does not take into account other forms of aggregation. But that is just a personal opinion. Overall it is an enjoyable book.
The only big downside for me is that it feels that the research is more focused on corporate USA and does not take into account other forms of aggregation. But that is just a personal opinion. Overall it is an enjoyable book.
April 8, 2022
A minor Stalin ready to rule the lives of people, and ready to deal with the individual ownership as he pleases. So admire him peacocking his fallacious thoughts, hopefully some dictator will give him the power for the good of everybody.
July 21, 2022
Good ideas for thoughts on working from home and its impact on society.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews