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On the scope for work-from-home in high and upper middle-income countries

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  • Antonio Estache
  • Simon Tooth

Abstract

This paper analyses the drivers of the scope for work-from-home (WFH) in high-income and upper-middle-income countries from a government policy perspective rather than from the firms’ or workers’ viewpoints. A simple statistical analysis confirms the important role of policy efforts to ease digital adoption decisions. But it also shows the role of other factors that can be influenced by policy choices. Policies to increase the average level of education of the population help. Labor policies matter as well, although in more complex ways. Their impact on the rate of part-time employment and on the degree of self-employment is statistically significant but with opposite signs. Policies reducing discrimination against women access to the labor market would also favour the scope for WFH

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Estache & Simon Tooth, 2020. "On the scope for work-from-home in high and upper middle-income countries," Working Papers ECARES 2020-46, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/314048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Telework; work-from-home; digitalisation; employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J48 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Particular Labor Markets; Public Policy
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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