MigrantÍ€™s Commuting and Spatial Concentration: The Case of Barcelona Metropolitan Region

Abstract

The recent arrival of thousands of foreign immigrants has modified the labor market of the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona. This paper studies immigrant commuting behavior, especially those displacements produced between workplace and residence. Commuting characteristics will first be analyzed from a descriptive perspective, to then focus on the effects of territorial distribution over mobility. Results show that immigrants need more time for their displacements, and a greater intensity in public transport use. At the same time, they tend to work less outside their municipality of residence. If analyzed by gender, these patterns particularly affect women. Additionally, a clear concentration effect is also noticed, reinforced by location: A metropolitan center effect is observed, while peripheries penalize daily mobility.