Changes in Activity-Travel Behavior of Workers Before and After the 2009 Recession

A daily tour choice model is developed for workers by hypothesizing structural relationships between activity-travel participation (time use) and choice of work and non-work tours. The model reflects tour behavior at three intervals: 3 years before the 2009 recession, during the recession, and three years after. Multiple-group structural equation models (SEM) enable an investigation of interrelationships between work (both at home and out-of-home) and non-work (out-of-home) activity time by time-of-day, by associated travel times, and the choice of tour type. The effects of socio-demographic variables on each of the activity-travel time and tour choice variables are also captured. The model also allows comparison among these relationships across pre-, during, and post-recession years. Using data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), the study shows that activity-travel relationships and their influence on tour choice differed significantly in the recession year (2009) compared to pre- and post-recession years. For example, during the recession people working at home preferred making out-of-home non-work activities before starting work. In the same year, the likelihood of people with multiple jobs choosing work-only tours increased. The research findings advance the understanding of tour choice as well as activity-travel behavioral change of workers during an economic downturn.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB10 Standing Committee on Traveler Behavior and Values.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Rafiq, Rezwana
  • McNally, Michael G
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2019-1-13 to 2019-1-17
• Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 7p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Activity choices; Automobile travel; Economic impacts; Employees; Recession; Travel behavior
• Identifier Terms: American Time Use Survey (ATUS)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01697625
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 19-05719
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2019 3:51PM