Abstract for: The Impact of Regional Mobility Systems on Residential Choice of Highly Skilled Workers and Macroeconomic Performance

This study explores the relationships between regional mobility systems and net migration dynamics of highly skilled workers, focusing on the Ruhr area in Germany. By employing a comprehensive system dynamics modeling approach, it investigates how regional mobility systems influence residential choice of highly skilled workers and thereby regional development. Central questions include understanding the mechanisms by which a region’s mobility system attracts highly skilled workers to settle in specific regions and how their preferences influence mobility infrastructure and planning decisions. For this purpose, different system dynamics models are developed and integrated, including models for three modes of transportation, encompassing car mobility, public transport, and cycling, as well as a region's macroeconomic perspective. This aims to identify feedback processes that influence the mobility patterns and macroeconomic performance of a region. The insights gained allow policymakers to develop targeted interventions to enhance mobility options and foster a conducive environment for talent retention and regional development.