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Impacts of Inter-firm Relations on the Adoption of Remote Work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Eiichi TOMIURA
  • Hiroshi KUMANOMIDO

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work suddenly attracted attention. This paper focuses on inter-firm relations, as the costs and benefits of introducing remote work are likely to differ depending on the firms’ relationships with other firms. We combine our unique survey on the responses of Japanese manufacturers or wholesalers to the COVID-19 pandemic with transaction relation data. We find that firms sourcing from more suppliers before the pandemic are significantly more likely to adopt remote work during the pandemic even after controlling for firm size. Wholesalers selling to more customers appear to be less likely to shift to remote work. * We revised this discussion paper with the new tile in August 2023. This paper was previously circulated under the title "Impacts of Inter-firm Transaction and Ownership Relationships on the Adoption of Remote Work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Suggested Citation

  • Eiichi TOMIURA & Hiroshi KUMANOMIDO, 2022. "Impacts of Inter-firm Relations on the Adoption of Remote Work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic," Discussion papers 22053, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:22053
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daiji KAWAGUCHI & Sagiri KITAO & Manabu NOSE, 2025. "CEO Age and Technology Adoption: Network effects in e-commerce propagation in Japan," Discussion papers 25023, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • F61 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Microeconomic Impacts
    • M16 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - International Business Administration
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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