Todd Morris
@toddmorris.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in Economics at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia). Research in applied micro (public and labor) with admin data. toddmorris.net
We find little evidence that health concerns or COVID infection rates explain the persistence.
Instead, habits, investments, and institutional changes result in a durable shift in behavior.
Instead, habits, investments, and institutional changes result in a durable shift in behavior.
June 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
We find little evidence that health concerns or COVID infection rates explain the persistence.
Instead, habits, investments, and institutional changes result in a durable shift in behavior.
Instead, habits, investments, and institutional changes result in a durable shift in behavior.
Why did lockdowns have a persistent effect on WFH?
- Employers appear to downsize office space & are more willing to offer WFH options
- Workers appear to invest in home offices and move further from city centers.
These adjustments have locked in WFH habits.
- Employers appear to downsize office space & are more willing to offer WFH options
- Workers appear to invest in home offices and move further from city centers.
These adjustments have locked in WFH habits.
June 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Why did lockdowns have a persistent effect on WFH?
- Employers appear to downsize office space & are more willing to offer WFH options
- Workers appear to invest in home offices and move further from city centers.
These adjustments have locked in WFH habits.
- Employers appear to downsize office space & are more willing to offer WFH options
- Workers appear to invest in home offices and move further from city centers.
These adjustments have locked in WFH habits.
Hybrid work is especially sticky.
Fully remote work is less persistent, but partial WFH remains common — especially in NSW and Victoria.
The stronger the lockdown, the greater and more persistent the WFH shift.
Fully remote work is less persistent, but partial WFH remains common — especially in NSW and Victoria.
The stronger the lockdown, the greater and more persistent the WFH shift.
June 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Hybrid work is especially sticky.
Fully remote work is less persistent, but partial WFH remains common — especially in NSW and Victoria.
The stronger the lockdown, the greater and more persistent the WFH shift.
Fully remote work is less persistent, but partial WFH remains common — especially in NSW and Victoria.
The stronger the lockdown, the greater and more persistent the WFH shift.
We analyse data from the HILDA Survey — a nationally representative longitudinal panel — focusing on the 50% of workers with office jobs (those most able to WFH).
By 2023, workers in heavily locked-down states were still working from home 43% more (or an extra half a day p/w)
By 2023, workers in heavily locked-down states were still working from home 43% more (or an extra half a day p/w)
June 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
We analyse data from the HILDA Survey — a nationally representative longitudinal panel — focusing on the 50% of workers with office jobs (those most able to WFH).
By 2023, workers in heavily locked-down states were still working from home 43% more (or an extra half a day p/w)
By 2023, workers in heavily locked-down states were still working from home 43% more (or an extra half a day p/w)
After an initial national lockdown, Australia saw big differences across states in lockdown duration.
- Victoria: 206 extra lockdown days than control states
- NSW: 90 extra days
- ACT: 46 extra days
We use this natural experiment to study long-run WFH effects.
- Victoria: 206 extra lockdown days than control states
- NSW: 90 extra days
- ACT: 46 extra days
We use this natural experiment to study long-run WFH effects.
June 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
After an initial national lockdown, Australia saw big differences across states in lockdown duration.
- Victoria: 206 extra lockdown days than control states
- NSW: 90 extra days
- ACT: 46 extra days
We use this natural experiment to study long-run WFH effects.
- Victoria: 206 extra lockdown days than control states
- NSW: 90 extra days
- ACT: 46 extra days
We use this natural experiment to study long-run WFH effects.