Research Seminar: Adan Martinez Cruz

Abstract

Teleworking from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has faced challenges specific to cities of emerging economies-eg lack of ac­cess to internet. This paper points out that these challenges may be overcome if teleworking is performed from a shared office located within reasonable commuting time from a worker's home. In No­vember and December 2019, a sample of office workers in Mexico City was presented to a discrete choice experiment (DCE) describ­ing alternatives under which they may choose teleworking two days a week from a shared office. Commuting time to shared offic­es is an attribute taking four values-within 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes walking distance from a worker's home. Availability of spaces to park bikes is another attribute. The price attribute is described as the amount that would be cut from work­er's monthly paycheck. Based on random parameter logit specifica­tions, willingness to pay (WTP) for teleworking from a shared of­fice two days a week is estimated at (2019) MXP 1,460 (USD 76.68) on a monthly basis. Average value of one-hour of commut­ing time is estimated at MXP 73.75 (USD 3.87). Average WTP for bike parking is MXP 280 (USD 14.07) on a monthly basis.