Journal of Transport and Land Use

Residential dissonance of teleworkers: Implications on relocation and impacts on urban sprawl in a post-COVID world

João de Abreu e Silva

Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7893-2671

Rui Colaço

Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7574-1458

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2025.2693

Keywords: Telework, Residential dissonance, Residential relocation, Urban sprawl, Post-COVID cities

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Abstract

This paper examines the role of telework adoption and preferences in residential relocation, focusing on how residential dissonance influences the intention to move. Specifically, if individuals more positive toward telework find their current residential location mismatched with their preferences, they are more likely to experience residential dissonance. This dissatisfaction could drive them to relocate to more suburban areas, contributing to urban sprawl. In this context, the 15-minute city could play a crucial role in the decision, as individuals may be drawn to urban environments with these characteristics, potentially mitigating the pressure for suburban relocation. A Structural Equation Model is estimated to test the study hypothesis using data from an online survey conducted in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area during spring and summer 2021. The results suggest that while attitudes toward telework do not significantly influence the decision to move, teleworking practices, particularly experiences during the pandemic do, indicating that telework could contribute to suburbanization. Nevertheless, the variables that capture the push factors for residential mobility (being young, living in a small house, having children, and being a renter) have a more decisive influence on the decision to move than the effects of telework, residential satisfaction, and residential dissonance. As for living in a 15-minute city, individuals residing in areas more aligned with the concept are less satisfied with the quality of public space, although more satisfied with accessibility levels. Living in a 15-minute city has a positive effect on the intention to move. This suggests that the impact of living in a 15-minute city may not be as straightforward as often assumed, highlighting the complexities of residential satisfaction in these environments.

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Author Biography

João de Abreu e Silva, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources Associate Professor

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