Individual Travel Cost Method: Estimation and Benefit Assessment with a Discrete and Possibly Grouped Dependent Variable
针对旅行成本法中访问次数常为离散且分组报告的问题，构建了考虑离散性和分组的模型，并通过案例和模拟展示了忽略此问题可能导致的估计偏差，以及不同分组大小对信息损失的影响。
Abstract The trip/visit variable in the individual travel cost method is often regarded as discrete. Furthermore, it is often reported in surveys as a grouped variable (the number of visits reported falling into one of several classes). This paper develops a travel cost model which takes account of discreteness and grouping in both demand and benefit estimation. A case study and associated simulations are then reported which indicate the potential extent of bias that may arise from ignoring discreteness/grouping in demand and benefit estimation. The information loss involved in varying the size of visit classes is also examined.