Sectoral specialization and telework possibility: the case of Greek regions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/bgss-2025-0010Keywords
telework, working from home (WfH), regional sectoral, specialization, Covid-19, GreeceAbstract
Research and policy efforts have focused on the expansion of teleworking over the last few years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, not all occupations and areas are suitable for teleworking. Using the Location Quotient and Pearson’s correlation coefficient index, this study examined the relationship between sectoral specialization and the possibility of telework at regional level in Greece, in order to identify the most suitable economic sectors and regions for telework. Spatial sectoral differentiation is related to the extent of telework diffusion, which appears to be more common in the tertiary sector. Teleworking appears to have exacerbated regional disparities in areas more specialized in trade and tourism activities. A contemporary digital strategy could contribute to a more balanced development of the country. These developments may reverse existing trends in the attractiveness of telecommuting in metropolitan areas and large urban centers.
References
Baruch, Y. & Nicholson, N. (1997). Home Sweet Work: Requirements for Effective Home Working. Journal of General Management, 23(2): 15-30. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/030630709702300202.
Bartik, A., Cullen, Z., Glaeser, E., Luca, M., & Stanton, C. (2020). What Jobs are Being Done at Home During the Covid-19 Crisis? Evidence from Firm-Level Surveys. National Bereau of Economic Research,Working Paper, 27422: 1-16. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3386/w27422.
Belzunegui-Eraso, A. & Erro-Garces, A. (2020). Teleworking in the Context of the Covid-19 Crisis. Sustainability, 12(9): 1-18. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3390/su12093662.
Berastegui, P. (2021). Teleworking in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Covid-19 impact series. European Economic, Employment and Social Policy Brief.
Betz, F., Riegler, J., & Schwartz, I. (2012). Deployment of Telework in European Public Administrations (an overview). Eurofound (Vienna: Center of Social Innovation).
Christofakis, M. & Gkouzos, A. (2013). Regional Specialization And Efficiency Of The Agricultural Sector In Greece: The Relationship With Regional Funding Allocation. Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, 13(1): 119-130.
Day, F.C. & Burbach, M.E. (2011). Telework considerations for public managers with strategies for increasing utilization. Communications of the IBIMA, 1-18.
Dingel, J. & Neiman, B. (2020). How many jobs can be done at home? Journal of Public Economics, 189: 1-8. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104235.
Ellder, E. (2019). Who is Eligible for Telework? Exploring the Fast Growing Acceptance of and Ability to Telework in Sweden 2005–2006 to 2011–2014. Social Sciences, 8(7): 1-16. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3390/socsci8070200.
Gbohoui, W., Lam, W.R., & Lledo, V.D. (2019). The great divide: Regional inequality and fiscal policy. International Monetary Fund.
Gkouzos, A. & Christofakis, M. (2018). Multiplier effects under adisaggregate economic base model: Evidence from Greek non-metropolitan prefectures. Journal of Economic Studies, 45(2): 383-400.
Irlacher, M. & Koch, M. (2021). Working from Home, Wages, and Regional Inequality in the Light of COVID-19. Journal of Economics and Statistics, 241(3): 1-31. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1515/jbnst-2020-0030.
Isard, W. (1960). Methods of Regional Analysis: An Introduction to Regional Science. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA).
Isserman, A. (1977). The Location Quotient Approach to Estimating Regional Economic Impacts. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 43(1): 33-41. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/01944367708977758.
Llave, O. & Weber, T. (2020). Regulations to address work–life balance in digital flexible working arrangements, Eurofound (Luxembourg: Industrial Research Report).
Lopez-Igual, P. & Rodriguez-Modrono, P. (2020). Who is Teleworking and Where from? Exploring the Main Determinants of Telework in Europe. Sustainability, 12(21): 1-15. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3390/su12218797.
Masouman, A. & Harvie, C. (2020). Forecasting, impact analysis and uncertainty propagation in regional integrated models: A case study of Australia. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 47(1): 65-83. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/2399808318767128.
Mahler, J. (2012). The Telework Divide: Managerial and Personnel Challenges of Telework. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 32(4): 407–418. DOI: http://doi.org/ 10.1177/0734371X12458127.
Messenger, J., Llave, O., Gschwind, L., Boehmer, S., Vermeylen, G., & Wilkens, M. (2017). Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work. Luxenburg and Geneva: Joint Report Eurofound and the International Labour Office.
Murray-Svidronova, M., Mikusova-Merickova, B. & Nemec, J. (2016). Telework in Public Sector Organizations: The Slovak National Library. International Public Administration Review, 14(2–3): 121–137. DOI: http://doi.org/10.17573/ipar.2016.2-3.06.
National Institute of Labor and Human Resources (2020). Teleworking in EU before and after the Covid-19 pandemic (in Greek) Newsletter No 3.
Nilles, J. (1975). Telecommunications and Organizational Decentralization. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 23(10): 1142-1147.
OECD. (2020). Productivity gains from teleworking in the post Covid-19 era: How can public policies make it happen?, Tackling coronavirus (Covid-19): Contributing to a global effort. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/productivity-gains-from-teleworking-in-the-post-covid-19-era-how-can-public-policies-make-it-happen-a5d52e99/ (Accessed: 10 January 2023).
OECD. (2022). Assessing teleworking strategies for local development: a framework proposal. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/Assessing-teleworking-strategies-for-local-development-PAT.pdf. Accessed: 10 January 2023.
Papadaskalopoulos, A. (2000). Regional Analysis Methods (in Greek). Papazisis Publications, Athens.
Parteka, A. (2010). Employment and export specialisation along the development path: some robust evidence. Review of World Economics, 145: 615–640.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10290-009-0037-y.
Pouliakas, K. (2020). Working at home in Greece: Unexplored Potential at Times of Social Distancing. Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), DP No. 13408.
PwC. (2020a). The future of work. Thinking beyond: How the pandemic is rewiring a new world of work.
PwC. (2020b). The effects of the pandemic in Greek businesses (in Greek).
Rodgers, J & Nicewander, A. (1988). Thirteen Ways to Look at the Correlation Coefficient. The American Statistician, 42(1): 59-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00031305.1988.10475524.
Rontos, K., Nagopoulos, N. & Tsapala, F. (2014). Social Elites and New Communication Methods/ Information Technologies: The Digital Devide. Archives of Business Research, 2(5): 29-46.
Ruth, S. & Chaudhry, I. (2008). Telework: A Productivity Paradox? IEEE Internet Computing, 12(6): 87-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MIC.2008.132.
Taskin, L. & Edwards, P. (2007). The possibilities and limits of telework in a bureaucratic environment: lessons from the public sector. New Technology, Work and Employment, 22(3): 195–207. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-005x.2007.00194.x.
Vilhelmson, B. & Thulin, E. (2016). Who and where are the flexible workers? Exploring the current diffusion of telework in Sweden. New Technology, Work and Employment 31(1): 77-96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12060.
Williams, F., Philip, L., Farrington, J & Fairhurst, G. (2016). Digital by default and the hard to reach: Exploring solutions to digital exclusion in remote rural areas. Local Economy, 31(7): 757-777. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094216670938.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Manolis Christofakis, Maria Ganapi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Title, logo and layout of journal Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series are reserved trademarks of Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series.Stats
Number of views and downloads: 258
Number of citations: 0
