Results of the RIGE project

Relocation from city centers to the suburbs is primarily driven by the search for more spacious and affordable housing in quieter neighborhoods with better access to green spaces, and therefore a higher quality of life. The widespread adoption of remote work (including work-from-home) enables living farther from city centers without the necessity of daily commutes. However, studies on the suburbanization phenomenon lack a focus on employees’ relocation preferences motivated by access to new flexible work arrangements. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess office employees’ declared willingness to relocate to the suburbs due to the possibility of remote work and to analyze how these preferences are influenced by socio-economic characteristics, employment conditions, commuting experiences, and changes in work productivity.

The study focuses on Poland, a country with a distinct level of cultural individualism that may affect work-from-home preferences and, indirectly, the desire to change residence. A high level of individualism is associated with personal freedom, autonomy, and achievement orientation, which promotes independence and self-reliance. Consequently, societies with higher individualism tend to accept remote work more readily. Poland differs significantly in terms of individualism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance compared to leading Anglosphere countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. These differences may shape the potential for remote work development and, consequently, influence migration and suburbanization levels.

This study is based on survey data from a representative sample of 639 office workers living in cities with populations over 100,000 and indicates that age, commuting mode, perceived changes in productivity, and employment in the private sector are significant factors that can substantially influence relocation preferences to the suburbs when remote work is an option.

Findings from Poland confirm trends observed in countries with different levels of cultural individualism and more developed remote work practices, indicating that remote work is a universal phenomenon preferred similarly across countries. It may become a significant factor in the “new” suburbanization process and accelerate suburban relocation for specific demographic groups—such as younger individuals, private-sector employees, and car commuters who have reported higher productivity gains.

Co-authors: Sławomir Kuźmar, David Bole