The influence of panel effects and inertia on travel cost elasticities for car use and public transport

Abstract Studies on the impact of changes in travel costs car and public transport use are typically based cross-sectional survey data or time series analysis do not capture intrapersonal variation patterns, which can result biased cost elasticities. This paper examines influence panel effects inertia behaviour sensitiveness, four waves Mobility Panel for Netherlands (comprising around 90,000 trips). analyses monetary travel. reflect (within wave) variations mode choice, three-day trip diary available each wave. The sensitiveness is shown by comparing choice models with (mixed logit error components) without (multinomial models). Inertia represents variability between waves, measured as effect decisions made a previous wave current Additionally, all include socio-economic spatial variables but also preferences life events. elasticities estimating mixed effects. main conclusion that inclusion tends to increase whereas decreases modes. Car users identified inert travellers, show lower tendency maintain their usual choice. reveals over repeated respondent’s yearly.