Did remote working push the growth of coworking spaces? The Italian cities case study

The rescheduling of working methods due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a surge in remote working arrangements and demand for collaborative spaces, like coworking spaces (CSs). Within this context, the paper analyses the growth and location of Italian CSs before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2018–2023) by merging new data sources and exploring their determinants. Applying a mixed-methods approach through qualitative and quantitative (count data model and spatial analysis) analyses, we show that Italian CSs are located and grown in large urban areas and medium-sized cities. The market potential – proxied by the presence of knowledge workers, the capacity to work remotely, the occupation's social skill intensity, the presence of self-employed workers and the concentration of innovation – and a stronger broadband endowment trigger CS growth. The spatial analysis and the interviews show a lower demand for CSs in suburban areas around large cities, probably because remote workers prefer to commute to nearby cities to exploit urbanisation economies. • The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated remote working and the demand for collaborative spaces, like coworking spaces (CSs). • Coworking spaces started to host remote workers and digital nomads. • Italian CSs are located and grow in large urban areas and medium-sized cities. • The demand for CSs in suburban areas around large cities is lower. • The growth of CSs is triggered by market potential, and a stronger broadband endowment.