Residential preferences, telework perceptions, and the intention to telework: insights from the Lisbon Metropolitan Area during the COVID-19 pandemic

Confinement measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to work from home. As telework reduces commuting costs, there is the possibility of contributing to urban sprawl as it allows people to move to the periphery. A web-based survey focusing on telework was conducted in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. A structural equation model was built to study the influence of residential location preferences, perceptions about telework, and current residential location with the intention to engage in telework. People willing to telework more frequently have a higher probability of living in suburban locations, preferring this type of environment and having longer commutes. These results support the premise that telework acts as a mechanism to reduce commute burden.