Planning and Action in a Model of Choice

Abstract

Purpose: This chapter introduces a choice modeling framework that explicitly represents the planning and action stages of the choice process.

Methodology: A discussion of evidence from behavioral research is followed by the development of a discrete choice modeling framework with explicit planning and action submodels. The plan/action choice model is formulated for both static and dynamic contexts; where the latter is based on the Hidden Markov Model. Plans are often unobservable and are treated as latent variables in model estimation using observed actions.

Implications: By modeling the interactions between the planning and action stages, we are able to incorporate richer specifications in choice models with better predictive and policy analysis capabilities. The applications of this research in areas such as driving behavior, route choice, and mode choice demonstrate the advantages of the plan/action model in comparison to a “black box” choice model in terms of improved microsimulations of behaviors that better represent real-life situations. As such, the outcomes of this chapter are relevant to researchers and policy analysts.

Citation

Ben-Akiva, M. (2010), "Planning and Action in a Model of Choice", Hess, S. and Daly, A. (Ed.) Choice Modelling: The State-of-the-art and The State-of-practice, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 19-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/9781849507738-002