Column
OECD Forum Network

The Changing Geography of Work: Priorities for Policy Makers

Format:Electronic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic thrust the issue of how and where we work into the spotlight. The adoption of remote and hybrid work increased exponentially as lockdowns necessitated social distancing. But now, as we enter a new phase of the pandemic, the Geography of Work—where work physically takes place—is also entering a new era. The pandemic cemented how millions of people could work productively from any location, but it was built upon a transition that was already years in the making. Having studied companies and the Geography of Work for several years as a professor at the Harvard Business School, I believe Work-from-anywhere (WFA), a form of remote work that offers individuals the flexibility to live where they want to, is a tool that might help countries and regions attract talent and reverse brain drain.