Site Aggregation in a Random Utility Model of Recreation
研究了在休闲随机效用模型中，使用聚合替代方案（如将多个钓鱼地点合并）会导致估计结果偏差，并用威斯康星州休闲钓鱼数据展示了这种偏差的影响。
Random Utility Models are commonly used to model the choice among a set of alternatives. Often, due to data or computational constraints, the analyst must use aggregated alternatives to estimate the model. These aggregates are defined by averaging characteristics of alternatives over prespecified groups. In this analysis, we demonstrate that unless some very restrictive conditions hold, the use of aggregated alternatives will lead to biased results. Then, using a data set of recreational fishing in Wisconsin, we show the effects that this bias can have on the results estimated from the model.