Lancaster-based economist Adam Ozimek gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for his research on remote work, becoming a go-to source for news outlets across the country. Ozimek is also a Temple University graduate, a former Philadelphia resident and an alumnus of local economic research firm Econsult Solutions and West Chester-based Moody’s Analytics. Ozimek said that employees sent home during the height of the pandemic who are still working remotely are unlikely at this point to be called back to the office. He also noted that while some city residents relocated to the suburbs when their work became remote, many Center City residents moved to new areas within the city, creating vacancies downtown. “Demand is a curve, not a fixed quantity,” Ozimek said. “You can increase supply, and more people will come because prices fall. So cities can really help to offset the problems of declining downtown demand for remote work by simply building more.” Read the Inquirer’s full interview with Ozimek about his research on the latest changes in remote work and how they might affect Philadelphia.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/15/2024