What happens when workers aren’t in the office, learning from each other? If the last decade is any guide, some adventurous individuals choose to work abroad. Major cities like Paris and Venice have seen a rise in arrivals from wealthy countries, with people settling in for months or longer, working remotely.

Local reactions are mixed. These affluent newcomers boost the economy by spending at local shops and restaurants, but they also drive up rents, increase traffic, and bring cultural changes. Governments face the challenge of balancing these pros and cons.

Some countries, believing the benefits outweigh the downsides, have actively encouraged foreign workers by offering housing subsidies. Others have taken the opposite approach, restricting home purchases by foreigners or imposing heavy taxes on their property investments. But which approach works best?

This lecture from the Hoover Institution and Stanford Institute of Economic Policy Research explores how the rise of remote work is affecting cities around the world.