Cities and working from home in Italy in the post COVID-19 age

The surge in the Working From Home (WFH) is changing the geography of work. In this study, we investigate how a permanent increase in WFH may affect the urban structure in Italy. We show that remote working has an asymmetric impact, with large cities more exposed to its possible adverse effects. We demonstrate that the share of workers able to work remotely, the relative house prices and the congestion are higher in large cities. Accordingly, there is a risk that the diffusion of the remote work can kick-start quitting from the Italian cities. In this context, the role of National Recovery and Resilience Plan in providing financial support to design the future of smart and inclusive cities in the post COVID-19 age is crucial.