Determinants of Commuter Trends and Implications for Indirect Rebound Effects: A Case Study of Germany's Largest Federal State of NRW, 1994-2013

摘要: Home-work commuting distances are increasing in Europe. Many studies see this as due to geographical mismatches between workplaces and homes, or worker skills job locations, often recommend policies close gaps jobs suitable workers. A different approach sees essential a modern economy, it facilitates information flow across complex economic networks geographically dispersed regions. In ‘city-network’ view, many workers make deliberate choices commute employers encourage this. This paper explores these viewpoints case study of Germany’s most populous state, North-Rhine-Westphalia, 1994-2013, using Federal data on workers’ home work locations. It finds an average annual increase commuter numbers 1.35%, from 43% 55% the workforce. Some can be explained by location mismatches, but steady increases various metrics lead suggestion that is also something people choose do. supports city-network hypothesis, implies rebound effect increased travel economy-wide energy efficiency. Qualitative quantitative needed identify actual reasons commute, more accurately estimate effects.