Case Study# 2 – Germany (Munich Metropolitan Area)

Relocation through RWA 🌟

Significance of this area for remote work

Munich has a well-developed and integrated public transportation system that combines regional trains, subways, trams, and buses under a unified tariff. Following the success of the 9-euro ticket in summer 2022, the 49-euro Deutschlandticket was launched in May 2023, offering nationwide access to local and regional transport. However, in the post-pandemic “new normal,” public transport reliability has declined, with frequent strikes and delays on key routes, making car commuting a more attractive option for many.

Remote work has emerged as another alternative. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, both transport use and housing demand dropped significantly, easing pressure on infrastructure. Many sectors adopted remote or hybrid work models, and some companies continue to use them. This reduction in daily commuting needs may encourage households to move to less central municipalities, where housing is more affordable and pressure on the market is lower.

Germany and the Munich metropolitan area in WinWin4WorkLife

As in other case studies, the German study begins with an employer survey. ZEW will gather data from at least 1,000 companies on their remote work experiences, organizational support, and concerns about productivity and mental health. The survey includes two behavioral experiments on (i) willingness to pay for remote work and (ii) office relocation decisions. Companies with satellite offices near borders will be prioritized, with an emphasis on firms in the Munich region.

Next, an employee survey led by TUM will collect data from at least 1,000 workers on remote work experiences, work-life balance, productivity, mental health, and residential choices. It includes a behavioral experiment on relocation decisions under different remote work scenarios. At least 400 participants will be invited to use the MOTUS time-use diary app to track daily time use and mobility. In-depth interviews with 30+ households will further explore intra-household coordination.

Finally, TUM will use an integrated land use and transport model (LUTI) to forecast spatial and environmental effects of remote work. The model—already operational for the Munich region—combines SILO (land use), ABIT (travel demand), and MATSim (traffic simulation). Insights from the surveys will refine household and firm relocation models to better capture the long-term impacts of remote work on mobility, health, and the environment.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀!
#𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗪𝗶𝗻𝟰𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 #𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 #𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 #𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

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