Sustainability Implications of Working-From-Home (WFH): A Systematic Review of the Travel Behavior Literature

Abstract

This systematic literature review investigates whether and how working-from-home (WFH) affects travel behavior in the working population, and then assesses whether the changes, if any, generate environmental, social, or economic benefits. We rely on a final sample of forty-eight peer-reviewed articles, selected following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Throughout the study, we distinguish between the pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 evidence. We find that there are many environmental, social, and economic benefits associated with WFH but attaining them is not straightforward, partly because current urban patterns were not created with WFH in mind and lifestyle adjustments can offset any gains associated with WFH. A decrease in overall travel distance is only accrued when most employees (in jobs that do not require face-to-face contact) work from home three or more times a week.