nep-dcm New Economics Papers
on Discrete Choice Models
Issue of 2022‒10‒24
nine papers chosen by
Edoardo Marcucci
Università degli studi Roma Tre

  1. The role of tenants in the transition towards more sustainable energy consumption By Benedikt Maciosek; Mehdi Farsi; Sylvain Weber; Martin Jakob
  2. Analysis of investment decisions based on homeowners' stated preferences: Policy measures, smart technologies and financing options By Benedikt Maciosek; Mehdi Farsi; Sylvain Weber; Martin Jakob
  3. Impact of complexity and experience on energy investment decisions for residential buildings By Benedikt Maciosek; Mehdi Farsi; Sylvain Weber; Martin Jakob
  4. Complementary choice functions By Vladimir Danilov
  5. The path towards herd immunity: Predicting COVID-19 vaccination uptake through results from a stated choice study across six continents By Stephane Hess; Emily Lancsar; Petr Mariel; Jürgen Meyerhoff; Fangqing Song; Eline van den Broek-Altenburg; Olufunke Alaba; Gloria Amaris; Julián Arellana; Leonardo Basso; Jamie Benson; Luis Bravo-Moncayo; Olivier Chanel; Syngjoo Choi; Romain Crastes Dit Sourd; Helena Bettella Cybis; Zack Dorner; Paolo Falco; Luis Garzón-Pérez; Kathryn Glass; Luis Guzman; Zhiran Huang; Elisabeth Huynh; Bongseop Kim; Abisai Konstantinus; Iyaloo Konstantinus; Ana Margarita Larranaga; Alberto Longo; Becky P.Y. Loo; Malte Oehlmann; Vikki O'Neill; Juan de Dios Ortúzar; María José Sanz; Olga Sarmiento; Hazvinei Tamuka Moyo; Steven Tucker; Yacan Wang; Yu Wang; Edward J.D. Webb; Junyi Zhang; Mark H.P. Zuidgeest
  6. A Matter of Quality? Experimental Evidence on Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Domestic Services By Natascha Nisic; Friederike Molitor; Miriam Trübner
  7. Modelling the Frequency of Home Deliveries: An Induced Travel Demand Contribution of Aggrandized E-shopping in Toronto during COVID-19 Pandemics By Yicong Liu; Kaili Wang; Patrick Loa; Khandker Nurul Habib
  8. Market Design with Deferred Acceptance: A Recipe for Policymaking By Battal Do\u{g}an; Kenzo Imamura; M. Bumin Yenmez
  9. Are preferences for work reference dependent or time nonseparable? New experimental evidence By Sam Cosaert; Mathieu Lefebvre; Ludivine Martin

  1. By: Benedikt Maciosek; Mehdi Farsi; Sylvain Weber; Martin Jakob
    Abstract: The split incentive problem leads to under-investment in energy improvements of rental buildings. This prevents the large CO2 savings potential from being achieved and leads to disadvantages for tenants. New investment opportunities and a willingness of tenants to pay for investments made by the landlord have the potential to solve the problem. Against this background, the aim of this research project is to find out how the situation is perceived by tenants and what preferences and trade-offs affect their decision-making. To answer this, we conduct a discrete choice experiment (DCE) and analyse the choice behaviour of 680 Swiss tenants. Finally, we calculate their respective willingness to pay (WTP).The results show that tenants are really interested in energy investments, especially when it comes to renewable energy. Moreover, the willingness to pay for such improvements indicates that they consider the current situation to be in need of improvement. Interestingly, however, they do not value collective investment opportunities that can circumvent the split incentive problem, but are more willing to pay part of the investment costs if the landlord invests. However, they also value the purchase of renewable electricity to contribute to more sustainable consumption without the landlord’s action. Their choice is also affected by net-metering and subsidy treatments, which shows that targeted policies can help to promote the willingness to contribute to such investments and ultimately reach CO2 reduction goals.
    Keywords: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, Choice experiment, Conditional logit models
    JEL: D12 L94 Q41
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irn:wpaper:22-08&r=
  2. By: Benedikt Maciosek; Mehdi Farsi; Sylvain Weber; Martin Jakob
    Abstract: Various energy investments are possible in residential buildings. Owners’ opportunities are moreover extending with smart technologies and optimisation options, as well as with the rise of collective investment projects. In this context, we investigate owners’ investment decisions by conducting a discrete choice experiment that includes all these elements. Our experiment allows to evaluate the willingness-to- pay (WTP) for investing in energy efficiency and for purchasing renewable energy. The effect of several energy policies is also investigated using treatment information messages displayed to randomly selected respondents. The results based on our sample of 1,451 Swiss homeowners suggest that WTP for energy investments is positive but marginally decreasing, so that it may be insufficient for very sophisticated and expensive investments. A general paradigm shift is not evident from our results, as the respondents prefer investing alone rather than collectively. Also, load management and storage appear to be valued only in combination but not separately. Amongst all policies, only for a binding CO2 cap per square meter of the accommodation a significant effect can be detected.
    Keywords: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, Choice experiment, Conditional logit models
    JEL: D12 L94 Q41
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irn:wpaper:22-06&r=
  3. By: Benedikt Maciosek; Mehdi Farsi; Sylvain Weber; Martin Jakob
    Abstract: Complexity within the decision-making process can inhibit energy investment for residential buildings. In this paper we explore effects of complexity on investment behaviour, as well as the impact of experience with similar investments and of subsidies as a promoting policy tool. To shed light on these issues, we conduct a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among homeowners. Furthermore, we investigate appreciation of a simplifying one-stop-shop concept and calculate the willingness to invest. Our results show that homeowners are interested in energy investments and have a positive but decreasing marginal willingness to invest. Subsidies matter for investment choices and their effect more than offsets the negative impact of costs. Experience with similar investments plays a role for single home owners and especially those who are familiar with subsidies seem to be interested in the one-stop-shop concept.
    Keywords: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, Discrete choice experiment, Conditional logit models
    JEL: D12 L94 Q41
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irn:wpaper:22-07&r=
  4. By: Vladimir Danilov
    Abstract: The paper studies complementary choice functions, i.e. monotonic and consistent choice functions. Such choice functions were introduced and used in the work \cite{RY} for investigation of matchings with complementary contracts. Three (universal) ways of constructing such functions are given: through pre-topologies, as direct images of completely complementary (or pre-ordered) choice functions, and with the help of supermodular set-functions.
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2209.06514&r=
  5. By: Stephane Hess (University of Leeds); Emily Lancsar (ANU - Australian National University); Petr Mariel (UPV/EHU - University of the Basque Country [Bizkaia]); Jürgen Meyerhoff (TU - Technische Universität Berlin); Fangqing Song (University of Leeds, UCL - University College of London [London]); Eline van den Broek-Altenburg (University of Vermont [Burlington]); Olufunke Alaba (University of Cape Town); Gloria Amaris (University of Leeds, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology [Trondheim] - NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology); Julián Arellana (Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla); Leonardo Basso (Universidad de Chile); Jamie Benson (University of Vermont [Burlington]); Luis Bravo-Moncayo (UDLA - Universidad de Las Américas [Ecuador], UTN - Universidad Técnica del Norte); Olivier Chanel (AMSE - Aix-Marseille Sciences Economiques - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - École Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Syngjoo Choi (SNU - Seoul National University [Seoul]); Romain Crastes Dit Sourd (University of Leeds); Helena Bettella Cybis (UFRGS - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Porto Alegre]); Zack Dorner (University of Waikato [Hamilton]); Paolo Falco (ITU - IT University of Copenhagen); Luis Garzón-Pérez (UTN - Universidad Técnica del Norte); Kathryn Glass (ANU - Australian National University); Luis Guzman (UNIANDES - Universidad de los Andes [Bogota]); Zhiran Huang (HKU - The University of Hong Kong); Elisabeth Huynh (ANU - Australian National University); Bongseop Kim (SNU - Seoul National University [Seoul]); Abisai Konstantinus (Ndatara surveys); Iyaloo Konstantinus (Namibia Institute of Pathology); Ana Margarita Larranaga (UFRGS - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Porto Alegre]); Alberto Longo (QUB - Queen's University [Belfast]); Becky P.Y. Loo (HKU - The University of Hong Kong); Malte Oehlmann (TUM - Technische Universität München = Technical University of Munich); Vikki O'Neill (QUB - Queen's University [Belfast]); Juan de Dios Ortúzar (UC - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile); María José Sanz (BC3 - Basque Centre for Climate Change, Ikerbasque - Basque Foundation for Science); Olga Sarmiento (UNIANDES - Universidad de los Andes [Bogota]); Hazvinei Tamuka Moyo (University of Cape Town); Steven Tucker (University of Waikato [Hamilton]); Yacan Wang (BJTU - Beijing Jiaotong University); Yu Wang (BJTU - Beijing Jiaotong University); Edward J.D. Webb (University of Leeds); Junyi Zhang (Hiroshima University); Mark H.P. Zuidgeest (University of Cape Town)
    Abstract: Despite unprecedented progress in developing COVID-19 vaccines, global vaccination levels needed to reach herd immunity remain a distant target, while new variants keep emerging. Obtaining near universal vaccine uptake relies on understanding and addressing vaccine resistance. Simple questions about vaccine acceptance however ignore that the vaccines being offered vary across countries and even population subgroups, and differ in terms of efficacy and side effects. By using advanced discrete choice models estimated on stated choice data collected in 18 countries/territories across six continents, we show a substantial influence of vaccine characteristics. Uptake increases if more efficacious vaccines (95% vs 60%) are offered (mean across study areas = 3.9%, range of 0.6%–8.1%) or if vaccines offer at least 12 months of protection (mean across study areas = 2.4%, range of 0.2%–5.8%), while an increase in severe side effects (from 0.001% to 0.01%) leads to reduced uptake (mean = −1.3%, range of −0.2% to −3.9%). Additionally, a large share of individuals (mean = 55.2%, range of 28%–75.8%) would delay vaccination by 3 months to obtain a more efficacious (95% vs 60%) vaccine, where this increases further if the low efficacy vaccine has a higher risk (0.01% instead of 0.001%) of severe side effects (mean = 65.9%, range of 41.4%–86.5%). Our work highlights that careful consideration of which vaccines to offer can be beneficial. In support of this, we provide an interactive tool to predict uptake in a country as a function of the vaccines being deployed, and also depending on the levels of infectiousness and severity of circulating variants of COVID-19.
    Date: 2022–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03778395&r=
  6. By: Natascha Nisic (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz); Friederike Molitor (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz); Miriam Trübner (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)
    Abstract: Despite a growing need for domestic help, many households refrain from outsourcing their domestic chores to the market. By drawing on transaction cost theory, the present study sheds light on how demand can be stimulated by overcoming trust problems that are related to the quality and professionalisation of domestic services. The experimental findings from our factorial survey (N=4024) further show how state-subsidised service vouchers not only facilitate outsourcing by alleviating budget constraints, but also how they contribute to better pay for domestic workers while simultaneously reducing the costs for households. Overall, the results support recent policy recommendations that emphasise the role of professionalisation, in combination with service voucher systems, in increasingly shifting paid domestic work from the informal to the formal economy.
    Date: 2022–10–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jgu:wpaper:2209&r=
  7. By: Yicong Liu; Kaili Wang; Patrick Loa; Khandker Nurul Habib
    Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically catalyzed the proliferation of e-shopping. The dramatic growth of e-shopping will undoubtedly cause significant impacts on travel demand. As a result, transportation modeller's ability to model e-shopping demand is becoming increasingly important. This study developed models to predict household' weekly home delivery frequencies. We used both classical econometric and machine learning techniques to obtain the best model. It is found that socioeconomic factors such as having an online grocery membership, household members' average age, the percentage of male household members, the number of workers in the household and various land use factors influence home delivery demand. This study also compared the interpretations and performances of the machine learning models and the classical econometric model. Agreement is found in the variable's effects identified through the machine learning and econometric models. However, with similar recall accuracy, the ordered probit model, a classical econometric model, can accurately predict the aggregate distribution of household delivery demand. In contrast, both machine learning models failed to match the observed distribution.
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2209.10664&r=
  8. By: Battal Do\u{g}an; Kenzo Imamura; M. Bumin Yenmez
    Abstract: We introduce a method to derive from a characterization of institutional choice rules (or priority rules), a characterization of the Gale-Shapley deferred-acceptance (DA) matching rule based on these choice rules. We apply our method to school choice in Chile, where we design choice rules for schools that are uniquely compatible with the School Inclusion Law and derive a set of matching properties, compatible with the law, that characterizes the DA rule based on the designed choice rules. Our method provides a recipe for establishing such results and can help policymakers decide on which allocation rule to use in practice.
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2209.06777&r=
  9. By: Sam Cosaert (UA - University of Antwerp); Mathieu Lefebvre (AMSE - Aix-Marseille Sciences Economiques - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - École Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Ludivine Martin (LISER - Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, CREM - Centre de recherche en économie et management - UNICAEN - Université de Caen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - UR1 - Université de Rennes 1 - UNIV-RENNES - Université de Rennes - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
    Abstract: Tests of labor supply models often rely on wages. However, wage variation alone generally cannot disentangle the classical time separable model and its extensions: reference dependent preferences (income targeting) and time nonseparable preferences (disutility spillovers; timing-specific preferences). We set up a novel laboratory experiment in which individuals choose their working time. We vary, independently, wages, historical income paths, and cumulative past work. We also vary the timing of experimental sessions. Statistical tests and stochastic revealed preference methods cannot reject the classical model in favor of income targeting or disutility spillovers, but the data suggest that labor supply varies by time-of-the-day.
    Keywords: Working time,Lab experiment,Time separable model,Income targeting,Disutility spillovers,Timing-specific preferences,Revealed preferences
    Date: 2022–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03777314&r=

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