Estimation of Travel Demand Models with Grouped and Missing Income Data

Chandra R. Bhat
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Abstract:

A method to impute a continuous value for household income from grouped and missing income data for use as an explanatory variable in travel demand estimation was developed.  Many data sets collect income in a discrete number of categories or in grouped form to simplify the respondent's task and to encourage a response.  In spite of such grouped data collection, many respondents refuse to provide information on income, leading to missing income values.  The issue of constructing a continuous measure of income form grouped and missing income data that, when used in travel demand models as an explanatory variable, enables consistent estimation of the model parameters is addressed.