Experienced and Expected Happiness in Transport Mode Decision Making Process

The analysis of the various dimensions of the individual's decision making processes has been an area of accrued interest for behavioral economists. The present paper aims at elaborating further the existing research on the happiness dimension and at developing a model for mode choice behavior through comprehensive analysis of economic trade-offs. The concept of happiness as examined in this context can be broken down to Experienced and Expected Happiness. The former is conditioned by similar experiences acquired by the individual in the past and by their reminiscence. The latter involves the individual's predicting skills, its expectations, motives and beliefs underlying the decision making process. The two concepts are integrated in a Mixed Multinomial Logit (MMNL) using panel data which yields interesting estimation results. Furthermore, innovative data collection approaches are suggested in the scope of better understanding transport users' mode choice behavior. The paper's capital findings include the importance of the role played by both the concepts of Experienced and Expected Happiness in the transport mode decision process and the degree to which both concepts are identified with the choice of a private owned vehicle rather than with that of a public means of transportation (metro). The conclusions to be drawn may contribute to an enhanced understanding of the transport market demand and thus to the improvement of strategic decisions to be made by policy makers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Duarte, Andre
  • Garcia, Camila
  • Limao, Susana
  • Polydoropoulou, Amalia
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2009-1-11 to 2009-1-15
• Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: TRB 88th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Decision making; Mode choice; Multinomial logits; Policy making; Public transit; Transit operating agencies; Travel behavior; Travel surveys
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01128787
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2199
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 19 2009 7:48AM