Residential location choice and its effects on travel satisfaction in a context of short-term transnational relocation
Mayara Moraes Monteiro
Faculdade de engenharia da Universidade do Porto and Technical University of Denmark, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Transport Division, Bygningstorvet 116B, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2220-7486
João de Abreu e Silva
CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7893-2671
Nuno Afonso
CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
Jesper Bláfoss Ingvardson
Technical University of Denmark, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Transport Division, Bygningstorvet 116B, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0609-5165
Sousa Jorge Pinho de
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2021.1952
Keywords: transnational relocation, residential location choice, residential satisfaction, travel satisfaction, temporary residents
Abstract
Temporary opportunities for studying and working abroad have been growing globally and intensifying the movement of highly skilled temporary populations. To attract this group, cities need to address their residential and mobility needs. This study focuses on factors influencing residential and travel satisfaction of transnational temporary residents, highlighting the occurrence of residential self-selection, its impacts on residential and travel choices and on derived levels of satisfaction. We have estimated a Bayesian Structural Equations Model and found that lower levels of residential satisfaction (residential dissonance) are associated with lower rents, living farther away from the place of study or work, and having higher transport expenditures. In contrast, higher levels of residential satisfaction (residential consonance) are related to individuals’ stronger preferences for active modes, lower levels of public transport use, and reduced transport monthly expenditures, which suggest shorter commuting distances. These findings reveal the tradeoffs involving residential location, monthly rent, and transport expenditures, highlighting that providing good public transport connections can reduce the burden of commuting distances. Our results indicate that better transport supply and land-use balance near the residence can improve both residential and travel satisfaction.
Author Biography
Mayara Moraes Monteiro, Faculdade de engenharia da Universidade do Porto and Technical University of Denmark, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Transport Division, Bygningstorvet 116B, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Monteiro, Mayara Moraes a,b
a Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
b Technical University of Denmark, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Transport Division, Bygningstorvet 116B, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, maymmo@dtu.dk
References
Adriaanse, C. C. M. (2007). Measuring residential satisfaction: A residential environmental satisfaction scale (RESS). Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 22(3), 287–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-007-9082-9
Aultman-Hall, L., Roorda, M., & Baetr, B. W. (1997). Using GIS for evaluations of neighborhood pedestrian accessibility. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 123(1), 10–17.
Barreira, A. P., Nunes, L. C., Guimarães, M. H., & Panagopoulos, T. (2019). Satisfied but thinking about leaving: The reasons behind residential satisfaction and residential attractiveness in shrinking Portuguese cities. International Journal of Urban Sciences, 23(1), 67–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2018.1447390
Beimborn, E. A., Greenwald, M. J., & Jin, X. (2003). Accessibility, connectivity, and captivity: Impacts on transit choice. Transportation Research Record, 1835, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3141/1835-01
Bergstad, C. J., Gamble, A., Gärling, T., Hagman, O., Polk, M., Ettema, D., … & Olsson, L. E. (2011). Subjective well-being related to satisfaction with daily travel. Transportation, 38(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-010-9283-z
Bonaiuto, M., Fornara, F., & Bonnes, M. (2003). Indexes of perceived residential environment quality and neighborhood attachment in urban environments: A confirmation study on the city of Rome. Landscape and Urban Planning, 65(1–2), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00236-0
Burbidge, S. K. (2012). Foreign living experience as a predictor of domestic travel behavior. Journal of Transport Geography, 22, 199–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2012.01.002
Buys, L., & Miller, E. (2012). Residential satisfaction in inner urban higher-density Brisbane, Australia: Role of dwelling design, neighborhood and neighbors. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 55(3), 319–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2011.597592
Cao, J. (2013). The association between light rail transit and satisfactions with travel and life: Evidence from Twin Cities. Transportation, 40(5), 921–933. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-013-9455-8
Cao, X. J., & Ettema, D. F. (2014). Satisfaction with travel and residential self-selection: How do preferences moderate the impact of the Hiawatha light rail. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 7(3), 93–108. https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v7i3.485
Chadbourne, M. (2014). Residential satisfaction in the changing urban form. In Adelaide: A comparative analysis of Mawson Lakes and Craigburn Farm, South Australia (Ph.D. thesis). University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, Adelaide, Australia.
Chapman, D. W., & Lombard, J. R. (2006). Determinants of neighborhood satisfaction in fee-based gated and nongated communities. Urban Affairs Review, 41(6), 769–799. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087406287164
Chatman, D. G. (2009). Residential choice, the built environment, and nonwork travel: Evidence using new data and methods. Environment and Planning A, 41(5), 1072–1089. https://doi.org/10.1068/a4114
Chowdhury, S., Zhai, K., & Khan, A. (2016). The effects of access and accessibility on public transport users’ attitudes. Journal of Public Transportation, 19(1), 97–113. https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.19.1.7
de Abreu e Silva, J. (2014). Spatial self-selection in land-use–travel behavior interactions: Accounting simultaneously for attitudes and socioeconomic characteristics. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 7(2), 63. https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v7i2.696
de Abreu e Silva, J., & Goulias, K. (2009). Structural equations model of land-use patterns, location choice, and travel behavior. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2135, 106–113. https://doi.org/10.3141/2135-13
De Vos, J. (2019). Satisfaction-induced travel behavior. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior, 63, 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2019.03.001
De Vos, J., Derudder, B., Van Acker, V., & Witlox, F. (2012). Reducing car use: Changing attitudes or relocating? The influence of residential dissonance on travel behavior. Journal of Transport Geography, 22, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2011.11.005
De Vos, J., Ettema, D., & Witlox, F. (2018). Changing travel behavior and attitudes following a residential relocation. Journal of Transport Geography, 73(October), 131–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2018.10.013
De Vos, J., Mokhtarian, P. L., Schwanen, T., Van Acker, V., & Witlox, F. (2016). Travel mode choice and travel satisfaction: Bridging the gap between decision utility and experienced utility. Transportation, 43(5), 771–796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-015-9619-9
Dinç, P., Özbilen, E., & Bilir, M. B. (2014). A multi-dimensional scale for measuring residential satisfaction (rs) in mass housing projects. Indoor and Built Environment, 23(6), 864–880. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X13484619
El-Geneidy, A., Grimsrud, M., Wasfi, R., Tétreault, P., & Surprenant-Legault, J. (2014). New evidence on walking distances to transit stops: Identifying redundancies and gaps using variable service areas. Transportation, 41(1), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-013-9508-z
Findlay, A. M. (2011). An assessment of supply and demand-side theorizations of international student mobility. International Migration, 49(2), 162–190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.2010.00643.x
Frenkel, A., Bendit, E., & Kaplan, S. (2013). Residential location choice of knowledge-workers: The role of amenities, workplace and lifestyle. Cities, 35, 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2013.06.005
Friman, M., & Gärling, T. (2001). Frequency of negative critical incidents and satisfaction with public transport services. II. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 8(2), 105–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0969-6989(00)00004-7
Glover, P. (2011). A comparison between domestic and international students’ trip characteristics: Evidence from an Australian university. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 17(4), 263–274. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766711420834
Guiver, J. W. (2007). Modal talk: Discourse analysis of how people talk about bus and car travel. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 41(3), 233–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2006.05.004
Gunn, L. D., King, T. L., Mavoa, S., Lamb, K. E., Giles-Corti, B., & Kavanagh, A. (2017). Identifying destination distances that support walking trips in local neighborhoods. Journal of Transport and Health, 5, 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.08.009
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2014). Multivariate data analysis. In Statistica Neerlandica (7th ed., Vol. 16, Issue 1). London: Pearson Education Limited. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9574.1962.tb01184.x
Hinton, P., McMurray, I, & Brownlow, C. (2014). SPSS explained. London: Routeledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315797298
Hur, M., & Morrow-Jones, H. (2008). Factors that influence residents’ satisfaction with neighborhoods. Environment and Behavior, 40(5), 619–635.
Instituto Nacional de Estatística. (2012). Censos 2011 Resultados Definitivos - Portugal. Lisbon: Instituto Nacional de Estatística.
Kockelman, K. M. (1997). Travel behavior as function of accessibility, land-use mixing, and land-use balance: Evidence from San Francisco Bay Area. Transportation Research Record, 1607, 116–125. https://doi.org/10.3141/1607-16
Kuptsch, C., & Pang, E. F. (Eds.). (2006). Competing for global talent. Brighton, UK: International Institute for Labor Studies.
Langlois, M., van Lierop, D., Wasfi, R. A., & El-Geneidy, A. M. (2015). Chasing sustainability: Do new transit-oriented development residents adopt more sustainable modes of transportation? Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2531(2531), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.3141/2531-10
Litman, T. (2007). Land-use impacts on transport (term paper). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54876-5
Lotfi, S., Despres, C., & Lord, S. (2019). Are sustainable residential choice also desirable? A study of household satisfaction and aspirations with regard to current and future residential location. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 34(1), 283–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-018-9631-4
Lovejoy, K., Handy, S., & Mokhtarian, P. L. (2010). Neighborhood satisfaction in suburban versus traditional environments: An evaluation of contributing characteristics in eight California neighborhoods. Landscape and Urban Planning, 97(1), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.04.010
Lu, M. (1999). Determinants of residential satisfaction: Ordered logit vs. regression models. Growth and Change, 30(2), 264–287. https://doi.org/10.1111/0017-4815.00113
Manaugh, K., & El-Geneidy, A. M. (2013). Does distance matter? Exploring the links among values, motivations, home location, and satisfaction in walking trips. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 50, 198–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2013.01.044
Manaugh, K., & El-Geneidy, A. M. (2015). The importance of neighborhood type dissonance in understanding the effect of the built environment on travel behavior. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 8(2), 45–57. https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2015.718
Milakis, D., Efthymiou, D., & Antoniou, C. (2017). Built environment, travel attitudes and travel behaviour: Quasi-Longitudinal analysis of links in the case of Greeks relocating from US to Greece. Sustainability, 9(10), 1774. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101774
Monteiro, M. M., de Abreu e Silva, J., Haustein, S., & Pinho de Sousa, J. (2021). Urban travel behavior adaptation of temporary transnational residents. Journal of Transport Geography, 90, 102935. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102935
Muthén, B., & Asparouhov, T. (2012). Bayesian structural equation modeling: A more flexible representation of substantive theory. Psychological Methods, 17(3), 313–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026802
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2017). MPlus user’ guide (8th edition). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.
Næss, P. (2005). Residential location affects travel behavior — But how and why? The case of Copenhagen metropolitan area. Progress in Planning, 63(2), 167–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2004.07.004
Næss, P. (2014). Tempest in a teapot: The exaggerated problem of transport-related residential self-selection as a source of error in empirical studies. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 7(3), 57–79. https://doi.org/10.5198/jtly.v7i3.491
OECD. (2019). International Migration Outlook 2019 - Chapter 1. In Recent developments in international migration movements and policies (International migration outlook). Paris: OECD. https://doi.org/10.1787/c3e35eec-en
Olsson, L. E., Gärling, T., Ettema, D., Friman, M., & Fujii, S. (2013). Happiness and satisfaction with work commute. Social Indicators Research, 111(1), 255–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0003-2
Ory, D. T., Mokhtarian, P. L., Redmond, L. S., Salomon, I., Collantes, G. O., & Choo, S. (2004). When is commuting desirable to the individual? Growth and Change, 35(3), 334–359. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2257.2004.00252.x
Páez, A., Scott, D. M., & Morency, C. (2012). Measuring accessibility: Positive and normative implementations of various accessibility indicators. Journal of Transport Geography, 25, 141–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2012.03.016
Prato, C. G., Bekhor, S., & Pronello, C. (2005). Methodology for exploratory analysis of latent factors influencing drivers’ behavior. Transportation Research Record, 1926, 115–125. https://doi.org/10.3141/1926-14
Redmond, L. S., & Mokhtarian, P. L. (2001). The positive utility of the commute: Modeling ideal commute time and relative desired commute amount. Transportation, 28(2), 179–205. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010366321778
Riaño, Y., & Piguet, E. (2016). International student migration. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199874002-0141
Salzberger, T., & Koller, M. (2010). Investigating the impact of cognitive dissonance and customer satisfaction on loyalty and complaint behaviour. Revista Brasileira de Marketing, 9(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.5585/remark.v9i1.2148
Scheiner, J. (2014). Residential self-selection in travel behavior: Toward an integration into mobility biographies. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 7(3), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v7i3.439
Schwanen, T., & Mokhtarian, P. L. (2004). The extent and determinants of dissonance between actual and preferred residential neighborhood type. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 31(5), 759–784. https://doi.org/10.1068/b3039
Schwanen, T., & Mokhtarian, P. L. (2007). Attitudes toward travel and land use and choice of residential neighborhood type: Evidence from the San Francisco Bay Area. Housing Policy Debate, 18(1), 171–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2007.9521598
St-Louis, E., Manaugh, K., van Lierop, D., & El-Geneidy, A. (2014). The happy commuter: A comparison of commuter satisfaction across modes. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior, 26(PART A), 160–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2014.07.004
UNESCO. (2020). Education: Outbound internationally mobile students by host region. Retrieved from http://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/content/download/31978/302437/file/2014_05_gaikokujingauksei.pdf
van Acker, V., Mokhtarian, P. L., & Witlox, F. (2011). Going soft: On how subjective variables explain modal choices for leisure travel. European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research, 11(2), 115–146. https://doi.org/10.18757/ejtir.2011.11.2.2919
Wang, D., & Lin, T. (2019). Built environment, travel behavior, and residential self-selection: A study based on panel data from Beijing, China. Transportation, 46(1), 51–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-017-9783-1
Wolday, F., Næss, P., & Cao, X. (Jason). (2019). Travel-based residential self-selection: A qualitatively improved understanding from Norway. Cities, 87, 87–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2018.12.029