Work commuting of the population in the Moscow agglomeration: Estimating commuting flows using mobile operator data

Abstract

The paper estimates the scales and spatial structure of work commuting in the Moscow agglomeration using mobile operators data about network user locations and considers the attractiveness of the Moscow labor market and local centers, as well as seasonal fluctuations in commuting flows. The attempt of using mobile operator data on movements of mobile phone users has shown good applicability of this tool for labor commuting studies both as an independent source and in combination with other data. Regression analysis is used to delineate the zone of “efficient” work commuting (territory about 50 km from the Moscow Ring Road, which serves as bedroom suburbs of the capital) and the “zero efficiency” boundary (150 km or 170 min), which shows the limiting size of the area of Moscow employment gravitation. A seasonal dynamics study shows that work commuting flows from oblast municipalities that border Moscow increase along with return flows of dachniki and suburbanized Muscovites who prefer living in a comfortable natural, country or half-country environment in their country houses, which is especially noticeable in the summer season.