Teleworking from a Near-Home Shared Office in Mexico City -A Discrete Choice Experiment on Office Workers

Abstract

Teleworking from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has faced challenges specific to cities of emerging economies -e.g. lack of access to internet. This paper points out that these challenges may be overcome if teleworking is performed from a shared office located within reasonable commuting time from a worker's home. In November and December 2019, a sample of office workers in Mexico City was presented to a discrete choice experiment (DCE) describing alternatives under which they may choose teleworking two days a week from a shared office. Commuting time to shared offices is an attribute taking four values -within 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes walking distance from a worker's home. Availability of spaces to park bikes is another attribute. The price attribute is described as the amount that would be cut from worker's monthly paycheck. Based on random parameter logit specifications, willingness to pay (WTP) for teleworking from a shared office two days a week is estimated at (2019) MXP 1,460 (USD 76.68) on a monthly basis. Average value of one-hour of commuting time is estimated at MXP 73.75 (USD 3.87). Average WTP for bike parking is MXP 280 (USD 14.07) on a monthly basis.

Habitability, Resilience, and Satisfaction in Mexican Homes to COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In addition, in the case of Mexico, in particular Mexico City, it is estimated that transportation spending can account for one third of a minimum-wage worker’s salary. Therefore, teleworking could be an option as a saving measure for workers [ 74 ] in terms of incomes and time on journeys [ 75 ], which facilitates a higher quality of life [ 76 ]. This would entail a reflection on teleworking as a good preventive or public health containment measure, to the extent that the scope and employment situation allows it.…”

“…However, the lack of other supplies, such as internet connectivity, has also been highlighted, bearing in mind that in many households, inhabitants have had to share the connection. Where home connectivity is not possible, it is necessary to rethink the possibility of designing and implementing shared workspaces as a possible solution [ 74 ].…”