This is an interesting case of the "revive the economy" argument. If you really don't see a benefit, to you or your employer, to returning to work, you are being forced to waste money (spending implies you get something out of it). More generously, it's a tax where the benefits go to your local Subway or gas station (or maybe bistro and public transit).
There are probably lots of other ways to force people to waste money, so this raises two questions:
- Is a larger GDP an unequivocally good thing if you get there by raising people's baseline expenses?
- Are the parts of the economy you are stimulating the ones we want to see growing?
I don't know the answer in either case. But in the later case, I know a lot of people who work in carpentry and delivery apps, and since the pandemic they have made an absolute killing: the work-from-home mandate invigorated that part of the economy like nothing before.
P.S. I agree with your personal point about leaving home. I like going in to the office too: my office is about 20 minutes away by bike and it's nice to get some air. I'm not sure if applies to people who have a less healthy or refreshing commute.
There are probably lots of other ways to force people to waste money, so this raises two questions:
- Is a larger GDP an unequivocally good thing if you get there by raising people's baseline expenses?
- Are the parts of the economy you are stimulating the ones we want to see growing?
I don't know the answer in either case. But in the later case, I know a lot of people who work in carpentry and delivery apps, and since the pandemic they have made an absolute killing: the work-from-home mandate invigorated that part of the economy like nothing before.
P.S. I agree with your personal point about leaving home. I like going in to the office too: my office is about 20 minutes away by bike and it's nice to get some air. I'm not sure if applies to people who have a less healthy or refreshing commute.