Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Discussion Papers,
Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science

No 2004/13: Misspecifications due to aggregation of data in models for journeys-to-work

Jens Petter Gitlesen (), Inge Thorsen () and Jan Ubøe ()
Additional contact information
Jens Petter Gitlesen: University of Stavanger, Postal: University of Stavanger , N-4036 Stavanger, Norway
Inge Thorsen: Stord/Haugesund University College (HSH), Postal: HSH, Postboks 5000, N-5409 Stord, Norway
Jan Ubøe: Dept. of Finance and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Postal: NHH , Department of Finance and Management Science, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway

Abstract: In this paper we develop a new simulation procedure that can be used to examine validity of model extensions. Our testing regime is carried out on a number of different trip distribution models. We test the models on synthetic populations contructed from an aggregated set of worker categories, reflecting for instance different qualifications. The advantage of this approach is that a large number of tests can be carried out repeatedly. We then examine how specific attributes of spatial structure and worker heterogeneity are captured by different modeling alternatives. It is quite surpricing to see how some model formulations systematically report significant contributions in cases where (by construction of the data) no such effects are present. This illustrates the imminent risk of drawing wrong conclusions in empirical work, i.e., that model extensions based on behavioral principles can sometimes report significant contributions that are in fact spurious.

Keywords: Simulation procedure; Model extensions; Trip distribution models

JEL-codes: C12

21 pages, October 22, 2004

Full text files

163688 PDF-file 

Download statistics

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Stein Fossen ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

This page generated on 2024-02-05 17:12:52.