On September 2 at 14:00 Jan Bednorz will defend his doctoral thesis “Global labour, local rules: Policy responses to digital nomadism” for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Economics).
Supervisors:
Associate Professor Eneli Kindsiko, University of Tartu
Associate Professor Mihkel Solvak, University of Tartu
Opponents:
Associate Professor Mari Toivanen, University of Helsinki, Finland
Professor Anna Triandafyllidou, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
Summary
Digital nomadism – a lifestyle of remote work and continuous travel – has grown rapidly in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to remote work. This rise has not gone unnoticed – many countries began actively attracting these worker-travellers by introducing so-called ‘digital nomad visas’.
This thesis studies digital nomadism from the perspective of destinations. It frames digital nomadism as a structural and economic phenomenon rather than merely an individual lifestyle choice (a predominant view in the literature so far). It comprehensively examines policy responses to digital nomadism, including the context (what), the policy content and rationale (how and why), the actors (who), and the outcomes (with what effects).
The thesis uncovers the heterogeneity behind the ‘digital nomad visa’ label. Countries design them with different goals in mind, such as extending tourism offerings to ‘working tourists’ or attracting long-term high-earning residents. It shows that the adoption of these visas worldwide has been uneven. They tend to cluster geographically, particularly in Europe and the Caribbean, and spread through regional imitation. Countries that introduce them are also structurally distinct: often smaller, wealthier, and more digitally connected. Lastly, using Estonia as a case study, it finds that uptake of its digital nomad visa has been relatively low, but emphasises that it may still help destinations target specific visitor groups and reduce pressures associated with mass tourism.
Overall, the thesis contributes a new ‘macro-level’ perspective on digital nomadism, showing how it is reshaping policy thinking, destination competition, and the global geography of work and mobility. It also highlights that, while digital nomad policies are still experimental, they reveal broader changes in how countries are attempting to attract mobile talent and reshape their position in a globalised, digitally connected economy.
