Understanding the role of neighbourhood characteristics and distance to workplace in the residential location patterns of knowledge workers in large cities

Abstract

The attraction and retention of knowledge workers is regarded as an opportunity to boost local economies. This research aims to contribute to an understanding of the residential patterns of these workers at an intra-urban level for Madrid. It explores the role of classic location factors versus cultural amenities and lifestyles, in the context of post-Fordist work patterns that are blurring the boundaries between work and life. A unique dataset that captures the administrative records of affiliated workers in Madrid is used to estimate spatial regression models, controlling also for socio-demographic and professional characteristics. The results reveal the distinctive -but complex- residential patterns of knowledge workers, influenced by hard factors, especially workplace accessibility. The influence of lifestyles is also observed, although in different ways. Many ICT workers tend to locate in the residential suburbs and demand urban amenities connected with their family status. On the contrary, the density of cultural amenities and ‘new’ workplaces, including ‘third places’ and co-working spaces, would attract just some artists to the city centre. The influence exerted by the different social and business knowledge networks, accessible from these locations, would seem to be more consistent. The paper discusses the empirical findings and some urban policy implications.