Future of Work

This is what working from home might mean for GDP and inequality

Open office workspace is seen in an empty office of an airline service company Bluelink International, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Prague, Czech Republic, May 4, 2020. Picture taken May 4, 2020. REUTERS/David W Cerny - RC2HNG9GH414

Working from home might be a 'mixed blessing'. Image: REUTERS/David W Cerny

Kristian Behrens
Associate Professor of Economics, Université du Québec à Montréal
Sergey Kichko
Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow, Center for Market Studies and Spatial Economics, HSE University
Jacques-François Thisse
Professor of Economics and Regional Science, Université catholique de Louvain
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a chart showing how much GDP is owed to working from home under two scenarios
Figure 1: GDP as a function of the WFH share, two different simulations. Image: Vox EU
a chart showing how GDP could be harmed in the long term
Figure 2: GDP changes in the short run (solid line) and in the long run (dashed line). Image: Vox EU
a chart showing how skills could suffer under remote working
Figure 3: Welfare of skilled relative to unskilled workers, two different simulations. Image: Vox EU
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Future of WorkFuture of WorkEconomic ProgressPandemic Preparedness and Response
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