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

Feb 18, 2021

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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