![Dr Thomas Sigler](/sites/default/files/profiles/2762.jpeg)
Overview
Background
I am an economic and urban geographer interested in (a) how globalisation shapes cities, and (b) how cities and urban space are shaped by globalisation. The first of these themes focusses on ‘the global economy’ and how various firms, institutions, and industries are distributed across space. This incorporates both existing geographies as well as change over time, as the shifting global economy has dynamic consequences. The second of these focusses more concretely on cities and the dynamics within them. I supervise a broad range of MPhil and Phd projects, and have active collaborations with partners in Australia, North America, Europe, and East Asia.
My specific interests fall into the following three areas:
1. The Sharing Economy, which has been popularised by platforms such as Uber and Airbnb. We currently have projects focusing on e-scooter sharing, short-term rentals, and labour platforms.
2. Land Use Change and Housing, with a focus on the interrelated processes of gentrification, suburbanisation, property investment, migration, and urban renewal. I am particularly interested in changing urban spatial structure with regard to macroeconomic, and specifically post-industrial, shifts that are occurring in cities around the world.
3. Global networks, with a focus on the diverse socio-economic connections between the world’s cities. This research theme combines network science, economic geography, and urban studies.
Availability
- Dr Thomas Sigler is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Southern California
- Masters (Research) of Science, Pennsylvania State University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University
Research interests
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Urban Geography
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Sharing Economy
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Economic Geography
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Housing
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Daylight Saving
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Short-Term Rentals
Research impacts
My work focusses on understanding the nature of contemporary urbanisation. I have published in a wide range of academic journals, including Urban Geography, Environment and Planning A, PLoS One, Urban Studies, Regional Studies, Journal of Geography, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research (IJURR), and the Bulletin of Latin American Research. I am on the editorial boards of Urban Geography, Finance & Space, Global Networks and Geographical Research.
Works
Search Professor Thomas Sigler’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Socio-spatial relations observed in the global city network of firms
Sigler, Thomas, Martinus, Kirsten and Loginova, Julia (2021). Socio-spatial relations observed in the global city network of firms. PLoS One, 16 (8) e0255461, e0255461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255461
Featured
2021
Book
A Modern Guide to the Urban Sharing Economy
Thomas Sigler and Jonathan Corcoran eds. (2021). A Modern Guide to the Urban Sharing Economy. Elgar Modern Guides, Northampton, MA, United States: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781789909562
Featured
2020
Journal Article
New directions in transnational gentrification: Tourism-led, state-led and lifestyle-led urban transformations
Sigler, Thomas and Wachsmuth, David (2020). New directions in transnational gentrification: Tourism-led, state-led and lifestyle-led urban transformations. Urban Studies, 57 (15), 004209802094404-3201. doi: 10.1177/0042098020944041
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Ever wondered how many Airbnbs Australia has and where they all are? We have the answers
Sigler, Thomas and Panczak, Radoslaw (2020, 02 13). Ever wondered how many Airbnbs Australia has and where they all are? We have the answers The Conversation
Featured
2019
Journal Article
The role of tax havens and offshore financial centres in shaping corporate geographies: an industry sector perspective
Sigler, Thomas, Martinus, Kirsten, Iacopini, Iacopo and Derudder, Ben (2019). The role of tax havens and offshore financial centres in shaping corporate geographies: an industry sector perspective. Regional Studies, 54 (5), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/00343404.2019.1602257
2024
Journal Article
Which 'globalisations' explain the overseas expansion of Chinese multinational enterprises through city-networks?
Zhang, Weiyang and Sigler, Thomas (2024). Which 'globalisations' explain the overseas expansion of Chinese multinational enterprises through city-networks?. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space. doi: 10.1177/0308518X241239502
2024
Other Outputs
Think short-stay rentals like Airbnb are out of control? Numbers are down, especially in our biggest cities
Sigler, Thomas and Zou, Zhenpeng (2024, 03 08). Think short-stay rentals like Airbnb are out of control? Numbers are down, especially in our biggest cities The Conversation
2023
Journal Article
Character contradiction: the exclusionary nature of preservationist planning restrictions
Gallagher, Rachel, Sigler, Thomas Jason and Liu, Yan (2023). Character contradiction: the exclusionary nature of preservationist planning restrictions. Urban Studies, 61 (6), 1013-1030. doi: 10.1177/00420980231195218
2023
Journal Article
Spatio‐temporal variation in the bid–rent functions of long‐term and short‐term rentals: evidence from South‐East Queensland, Australia
Sigler, T., Zou, Z., Corcoran, J. and Charles‐Edwards, E. (2023). Spatio‐temporal variation in the bid–rent functions of long‐term and short‐term rentals: evidence from South‐East Queensland, Australia. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 115 (1), 42-63. doi: 10.1111/tesg.12588
2023
Journal Article
How path dependent urban morphology restricts the effectiveness of rezoning for urban consolidation: lessons from Brisbane, Australia
Gallagher, Rachel, Sigler, Thomas and Liu, Yan (2023). How path dependent urban morphology restricts the effectiveness of rezoning for urban consolidation: lessons from Brisbane, Australia. Journal of Urban Affairs. doi: 10.1080/07352166.2023.2211770
2023
Journal Article
Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It : by M. Nolan Gray, Washington, DC, Island Press, 2022, 256 pp., US$30.00 (pbk), ISBN: 9781642832549
Sigler, Thomas (2023). Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It : by M. Nolan Gray, Washington, DC, Island Press, 2022, 256 pp., US$30.00 (pbk), ISBN: 9781642832549. Urban Policy and Research, 41 (3), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2023.2198291
2023
Other Outputs
Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport
Buning, Richard, Corcoran, Jonathan, Rahbar, Maisie, McKercher, Bob, Pojani, Dorina, Sigler, Thomas, Zou, Frank and Hardy, Anne (2023, 01 25). Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport Contact Magazine
2022
Journal Article
Were there really 1 million unoccupied dwellings in Australia on census night 2021?
Wilson, Tom, Zou, Frank and Sigler, Thomas (2022). Were there really 1 million unoccupied dwellings in Australia on census night 2021?. Australian Population Studies, 6 (2), 14-26. doi: 10.37970/aps.v6i2.106
2022
Journal Article
Junior Miner internationalisation in the globalising mining industry
Nunez-Picado, Adriana, Martinus, Kirsten and Sigler, Thomas (2022). Junior Miner internationalisation in the globalising mining industry. Resources Policy, 79 103084, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.103084
2022
Journal Article
Weather to scoot? How weather shapes shared e-scooter ridership patterns
Kimpton, Anthony, Loginova, Julia, Pojani, Dorina, Bean, Richard, Sigler, Thomas and Corcoran, Jonathan (2022). Weather to scoot? How weather shapes shared e-scooter ridership patterns. Journal of Transport Geography, 104 103439, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2022.103439
2022
Other Outputs
Housing demand in Queensland: Ageing and Regional Change
Charles-Edwards, Elin, Zheng, Shuangshuang, Wyeth, Stephanie, Hensley, Melissa and Sigler, Thomas (2022). Housing demand in Queensland: Ageing and Regional Change. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia.
2022
Other Outputs
E-scooters are becoming wildly popular – but we have to factor in the weather
Kimpton, Anthony, Pojani, Dorina, Corcoran, Jonathan, Loginova, Julia, Bean, Richard and Sigler, Thomas (2022, 09 27). E-scooters are becoming wildly popular – but we have to factor in the weather
2022
Journal Article
Urban “blandscapes”: how the practical implementation of planning policy reduces land use diversity
Gallagher, Rachel, Sigler, Thomas and Liu, Yan (2022). Urban “blandscapes”: how the practical implementation of planning policy reduces land use diversity. Urban Policy and Research, 41 (3), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2022.2122427
2022
Journal Article
Brokerage as an urban and regional process between systems and scales
Sigler, Thomas, Neal, Zachary and Martinus, Kirsten (2022). Brokerage as an urban and regional process between systems and scales. Regional Studies, 57 (2), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/00343404.2022.2093343
2022
Journal Article
Airbnb and micro‐entrepreneurship in regional economies: Lessons from Australia
Mahmuda, Sirat, Sigler, Thomas, Corcoran, Jonathan and Knight, Eric (2022). Airbnb and micro‐entrepreneurship in regional economies: Lessons from Australia. Geographical Research, 60 (2), 269-285. doi: 10.1111/1745-5871.12506
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Thomas Sigler is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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How does working from home (WFH) impact cities?
Students are invited to express their interest in studying the spatial implications of the recent shift to large-scale remote work. This may be carried out in the Australian context, or in any other global context. Funding is contingent upon successful scholarship award.
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The Globalisation of Social Class
Students are invited to express their interest in studying spatial differentiation in social class from a cross-cultural perspective with regard to recent globalisation-induced shifts. This may be carried out in the Australian context, or in any other global context. Funding is contingent upon successful scholarship award.
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Airbnb and Cities
Students are invited to express their interest in studying how short-term rentals impact urban housing markets. This may be carried out in the Australian context, or in any other global context. Funding is contingent upon successful scholarship award.
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Globalisation and Networks
Students are invited to express their interest in studying how global firms are connected through financial networks. Funding is contingent upon successful scholarship award.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Two Decades of Change in the Australian Labourscape
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elin Charles-Edwards
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Doctor Philosophy
Urban Micromobility and the Sharing Economy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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Doctor Philosophy
A comparative study of housing affordability issues in China and Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Julia Loginova, Dr Matthew Curry
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Doctor Philosophy
Urban Consolidation through Densification: the Constraints of Existing Property Boundaries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Ms Stephanie Wyeth, Professor Yan Liu
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimizing the Distribution of Dockless Sharing Stations Using Geospatial Machine Learning
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
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Doctor Philosophy
Affordable Housing Policies in Indonesia: Evaluations Analysis of National Programs (BSPS, FLPP and SSB)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Roitman
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Doctor Philosophy
Settlement and internal migration patterns of immigrants
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tomasz Zajac, Dr Aude Bernard
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The sharing economy and its diffusion between and within cities: Case of a home-sharing platform
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
"We have lived together longer than the average Australian family" Understanding the Intentional Community Living Arrangements
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elin Charles-Edwards
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Situating Individuals' Subjective Needs and Aspirations within the Wider Context of the Housing Market
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Walters
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2019
Master Philosophy
Property Boundary Change for Residential Development: A study of Brisbane, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yan Liu
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Networks of Qajar Commerce: The Tabriz Grand Bazaar within the Globalising World of the Nineteenth Century
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Manu P. Sobti
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the influence of weather on public transport passenger's travel behaviour
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yan Liu, Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial Evolution and Settlement Pathways of Mainland China-born Migrants in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran, Professor Yan Liu
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing the Understanding of Urban Systems for Sustainability Transition: A Study of Urban Environmental Management in the Natural Resource-Based Industrial City of Jinchang, China
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anthony Halog, Dr Bob Beeton
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Thomas Sigler directly for media enquiries about:
- Airbnb
- Cities
- Daylight Saving
- Daylight Saving Time
- Economic Geography
- Housing
- Land Use Planning
- Population Growth
- Sharing Economy
- Urban Geography
- Urban Planning
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