Modeling Telecommuting and Teleshopping Preferences in the Post-Pandemic Era

Abstract

COVID-19 mitigation measures triggered a sharp increase in the adoption of teleshopping and telecommuting activities. However, there is a need to understand the extent to which past frequencies and experiences will affect post-pandemic teleactivity behavior. Moreover, teleshopping and telecommuting are interconnected, and a relationship may exist between them in the post-pandemic world. This study investigates post-pandemic preferences toward online grocery shopping, online food ordering, and working from home by using a multivariate ordered probit (MVOP) model. The data come from a web-based survey conducted for the Central Okanagan region of Canada. Model results confirm the presence of unobserved factors influencing telecommuting and teleshopping choices. Looking at endogeneity, working from home after the pandemic revealed a positive effect on online grocery shopping. However, results were not the same for post-pandemic online food ordering. Model results also confirm the significant impact of past teleactivity frequencies and experiences on post-pandemic preferences. Overall, the findings provide important insights into post-pandemic activity and travel patterns which can be used for robust policymaking.