PublicationArticle (with peer review)

Exposure to remote work and probability of long-distance commuting: evidence from pandemic lockdowns

Abstract

This article examines whether exposure to remote work during pandemic lockdowns increased the likelihood of starting a long-distance commute. Using longitudinal Swedish population registers, the authors find that employees without a prior history of long-distance commuting were more likely to work farther from home when their occupations were suitable for remote work. The association was especially pronounced among highly skilled workers in sectors where remote work and long commutes had previously been uncommon. The outcome is the distance between home and workplace, not commuting frequency or travel time.

Johansson, E., Nilsson, P., Larsson, J. P., Naldi, L., & Westlund, H. (2026). Exposure to remote work and probability of long-distance commuting: evidence from pandemic lockdowns. The Annals of Regional Science, 75, article 128.

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© The authors 2026. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.

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Author: Johansson, E., Nilsson, P., Larsson, J. P., Naldi, L. & Westlund, H.
Publication year: 2026
Published in: The Annals of Regional Science, 75, article 128

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Ph.D.
Johan P Larsson
johan.p.larsson@ratio.se

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