COVID-19, Shifting Urban Growth Dynamics and Preferences for Regional Living in Australia

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Stated preference surveys and qualitative engagement were used to examine the potential for change in Australian urban growth dynamics. We found that residents with strong preferences for large and mid-sized cities appear unlikely to change their preferences. However, 21 percent of individuals currently living in large cities were open to moving to mid-sized cities. 54 percent of respondents placed a high importance on quality of life, local healthcare, and affordable housing. Employment is a pivotal barrier to relocation. To encourage regional growth, we recommend: developing local employment, supporting remote work, investing in post-retirement living infrastructure, and increasing local educational services.