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The Economics of Spatial Mobility: Theory and Evidence Using Smartphone Data

Author

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  • Yuhei Miyauchi
  • Kentaro Nakajima
  • Stephen J Redding

Abstract

We develop a tractable quantitative framework for modeling the rich patterns of spatial mobility observed in smartphone data. We show that travel is frequently undertaken as part of a travel itinerary, defined as a journey starting and ending at home that can include more than one intermediate stop on a given day. We show that these travel itineraries provide microfoundations for consumption externalities and generate both complementarity and substitutability between locations. We show that the consumption externalities implied by travel itineraries are central to matching quasi-experimental evidence from the shift to working from home. We find that these consumption externalities are key drivers of the agglomeration of economic activity in central cities and shape the relative welfare gains from alternative transport improvements in favor of investments in central cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuhei Miyauchi & Kentaro Nakajima & Stephen J Redding, 2025. "The Economics of Spatial Mobility: Theory and Evidence Using Smartphone Data," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 140(4), pages 2507-2570.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:qjecon:v:140:y:2025:i:4:p:2507-2570.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/qje/qjaf038
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    Cited by:

    1. Hitoshi Shigeoka & Mika Akesaka, 2023. "``Invisible Killer'': Seasonal Allergies and Accidents," Working Papers e187, Tokyo Center for Economic Research.
    2. AIBA, Ikuto & YAMAGHISHI, Atsushi, 2025. "Urbanization without Industrialization : Evidence from US Bases in Okinawa," Discussion Paper Series 767, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    3. A.M. Pinna & V. Licio, 2025. "Accessibility across Italy: A grid cell approach," Working Paper CRENoS 202501, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    4. Eugenia Go & Kentaro Nakajima & Yasuyuki Sawada & Kiyoshi Taniguchi, 2023. "Satellite-Based Vehicle Flow Data to Assess Local Economic Activities," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1209, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    5. Paul Blanchard & Douglas Gollin & Martina Kirchberger, 2023. "Perpetual Motion: High-Frequency Human Mobility in Three African Countries," Trinity Economics Papers tep0823, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
    6. Redding, Stephen J., 2023. "The economics of cities: from theory to data," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121373, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, 2023. "The remote work revolution: Impact on real estate values and the urban environment: 2023 AREUEA Presidential Address," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 51(1), pages 7-48, January.
    8. Pierre Magontier, Maximilian v. Ehrlich, Markus Schl pfer, 2022. "The Fragility of Urban Social Networks - Mobility as a City Glue -," Diskussionsschriften credresearchpaper38, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft - CRED.
    9. Anthony J. Venables, 2025. "Location choice when the number of jobs matters: Matching in spatial equilibrium," CEP Discussion Papers dp2087, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Stephen J. Redding, 2024. "Quantitative Urban Economics," NBER Working Papers 33130, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Shinnosuke KIKUCHI & Daniel G. O'CONNOR, 2024. "The Granular Origins of Agglomeration," Discussion papers 24005, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    12. Gorjian, Mahshid, 2025. "Statistical and Methodological Advances in Spatial Economics: A Comprehensive Review of Models, Empirical Strategies, and Policy Evaluation," MPRA Paper 125636, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Chun, Hyunbae & Kwon, Eunjee & Yang, Dongyun, 2024. "The rise of e-commerce and generational consumption inequality: Evidence from COVID-19 in South Korea," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    14. Hausman, Naomi & Samuels, Peleg & Cohen, Maxime & Sasson, Roy, 2025. "Urban pull: The roles of amenities and employment," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    15. Daiji Kawaguchi & Keisuke Kawata & Chigusa Okamoto, 2024. "Urban Redevelopment Program and Demand Externality," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1227, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    16. Frédéric Kluser, 2025. "Cross-border shopping: evidence from household transaction records," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 161(1), pages 1-19, December.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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