Research ideas tagged “cities”

Parcel lockers and the last mile

Last-mile delivery appears on 79 recent papers, and the topic is growing (23 papers in the last quarter against about 18 expected), but parcel lockers on only 6. Lockers and pickup points promise fewer failed deliveries and fewer van stops. Do customers use them, and do they cut cost and emissions once the trips customers make to fetch parcels are counted?

Papers in the last 30 days — last-mile delivery: 14

Zoning reform and the homes that get built

Housing supply, land use regulation and upzoning appear on 48 recent papers in the economics journals. Cities from Auckland to Minneapolis and states from California to Oregon have loosened zoning in the last decade. How many extra homes did the reforms produce, where, and did rents respond?

Remote work and the hollowing of city centres

Remote and hybrid work appear on 53 recent papers across the economics and management journals, but only 12 of them carry a city, housing, commuting, office or rent keyword. Office vacancies are at record highs in many downtowns. Where did spending, rents and tax bases move, and are the shifts permanent?

Papers in the last 30 days — remote work: 1

Shared micromobility after the boom

Bike sharing, electric scooters and shared micromobility appear on 19 recent papers, mostly in operations research, and the topic is fading, with 2 papers in the last quarter against about 6 per quarter before. Several operators have failed and cities have banned scooters. Which systems survived, and did they replace car trips or walking?

Managing decline in Japan's shrinking regions

Population decline, shrinking cities and the aging society appear on 26 recent papers, but only 4 of them also concern Japan, the country furthest into the decline. Which local policies (consolidation of services, migration incentives, remote work) keep regions viable, and what does orderly decline cost compared with resisting it?

Papers in the last 30 days — Japan: 3

Congestion pricing in New York

Congestion pricing, low emission zones and road tolls appear on just 10 recent papers, with one in the last quarter. New York's congestion charge began in January 2025, the first in the US, after years of delay. What did it do to traffic, transit, business and air quality, and who paid?

City logistics after the vans

Urban logistics, urban freight transport and urban delivery appear on 46 recent papers, almost all in operations research, and the topic is fading, with 8 in the last quarter against about 13 per quarter before. Cities are restricting vans and funding cargo bikes and micro-hubs. Which combinations cut kilometres and cost, and do couriers and retailers adopt them without mandates?

Papers in the last 30 days — urban logistics: 1