Welfare Estimation Using Aggregate and Individual-Observations Models: A Comparison Using Monte Carlo Techniques

Hellerstein, Daniel

Welfare Estimation Using Aggregate and Individual-Observations Models: A Comparison Using Monte Carlo Techniques

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Due to the weak behavioral foundations of aggregate demand models, zonal travel cost models have been largely abandoned in favor of models based on individual observations. However, sample selection difficulties in individual-observation models often require the use of distribution-sensitive limited-dependent variables estimators. In this paper I use Monte-Carlo simulations to investigate whether the bias from aggregation is worse than possible bias from these narrowly specified estimators. Somewhat surprisingly, the results indicate that zonal models often outperform the individual-observation models, especially when using an aggregate model that incorporates intrazonal variance of the explanatory variables.

Keywords: aggregation bias; individual-observation models; zonal models. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C43 Q51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1995
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

Published in American Journal of Agricultural Economics 77.3(1995): pp. 620-630

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Journal Article: Welfare Estimation Using Aggregate and Individual-Observation Models: A Comparison Using Monte Carlo Techniques (1995)
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