Commuting time and happiness: Empirical evidence from Korean Youth Panel data

Introduction: Commuting is stressful. However, most workers cannot avoid this problem because of a systematic imbalance between jobs and housing in urban areas. In this study, we examine how commuting time affects young workers’ happiness by focusing on South Korea. Methods: To estimate the effect of commuting time on happiness, we use Korean Youth Panel data by employing fixed-effects panel data analysis models. Results: Our results show that commuting time is not linearly related to young Korean workers’ happiness, but has a non-linear relationship with it. Specifically, the findings demonstrate that increasing commuting time negatively affects the happiness of people who use cars, but not that of people who use other modes of transportation. In addition, commuting time negatively affects happiness in low-income households. Conclusions: Our empirical study suggests that commuting time matters more for low-income workers and car users than others, especially in South Korea, which should be considered in urban and transportation planning.