Análisis de los Patrones de Commuting en Ecuador y su efecto en los salarios: Un estudio de las Regiones principales del País

Abstract

This study analyzes commuting patterns and their effect on workers' wages in Ecuador. It uses data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census’ (2014) (INEC by its Spanish acronym) Living Conditions Survey and a Heckman selection model to correct selection bias. The research examines the demographic and mobility characteristics of commuters. It reveals that workers who commute short distances (less than one hour) have an average increase of 16.82% in their hourly earnings. In contrast, those who commute long distances do not experience a significant wage increase. These findings suggest that short-distance commuting is positively associated with higher profits. At the same time, long commutes do not offer proportional wage benefits, highlighting the importance of considering labor mobility in economic planning.