Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a paradigm shift in global work patterns, bringing telework to the forefront of urban economic restructuring. This paper investigates how the widespread adoption of telework has reshaped urban development, firm location decisions, housing markets, transportation systems, and environmental outcomes. Drawing from historical data and spatial-economic modeling frameworks, the study analyzes trends in telework adoption, differences in firm relocation behavior, and urban policy responses, with case studies primarily from Japan and other global cities. The work reveals a notable decentralization of economic activities as firms migrate from central business districts to suburban fringes, catalyzed by declining telework infrastructure costs and evolving employee preferences. The paper examines how this decentralization impacts housing demand, traffic congestion, socioeconomic inequality, and land use. Findings suggest that while telework presents opportunities for more balanced urban growth and environmental benefits, it also introduces challenges related to infrastructure planning, equitable access to telework resources, and potential urban hollowing. Policy recommendations are made to guide adaptive urban planning in an increasingly hybrid working world.