The Impact of Commuting on the Subjective Well-being of Chinese Resident: Empirical Evidence from CHFS data

This article is based on the 2017 and 2019 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) data. It conducts a systematic study on the impact and mechanism of commuting on residents' subjective well-being in China from urban-rural heterogeneity and demographic heterogeneity perspectives. Research has found that, firstly, the three aspects of commuting: i.e., commuting time, commuting distance, and commuting method have a significant impact on residents' subjective well-being. Commuting time has a significant negative effect on residents' subjective well-being. In contrast, longer commuting distance compensates for the negative impact of long-distance commuting on residents' subjective well-being by enhancing the utility of other aspects. Among commuting methods, At present, public transportation has the most significant inhibitory effect on residents' subjective well-being. Secondly, the analysis of the mechanism of action shows that the impact of commuting time, commuting distance, and commuting method on residents' subjective well-being shows substantial heterogeneity due to differences in regional location and individual characteristics. The impact is more significant in urban areas, eastern regions, high-priced housing areas, male residents, married residents, and residents with children. Thirdly, further exploring the external conditions that enhance the subjective well-being of residents through commuting, excessive construction of bridges, overpasses, etc., is not conducive to improving the quality of commuting but may damage the subjective well-being of residents.