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The spatial transferability of parameters in a gravity model of commuting flows

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  • McArthur, David Philip
  • Kleppe, Gisle
  • Thorsen, Inge
  • Ubøe, Jan

Abstract

This paper studies whether gravity model parameters estimated in one geographic area can give reasonable predictions of commuting flows in another. To do this, three sets of parameters are estimated for geographically proximate yet separate regions in south-west Norway. All possible combinations of data and parameters are considered, giving a total of nine cases. Of particular importance is the distinction between statistical equality of parameters and ‘practical’ equality, i.e. are the differences in predictions big enough to matter. A new type test based on the standardised root mean square error (SRMSE) and Monte Carlo simulation is proposed and utilised.

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  • McArthur, David Philip & Kleppe, Gisle & Thorsen, Inge & Ubøe, Jan, 2011. "The spatial transferability of parameters in a gravity model of commuting flows," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 596-605.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:19:y:2011:i:4:p:596-605
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2010.06.014
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    Cited by:

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    2. Achim Ahrens & Sean Lyons, 2021. "Do rising rents lead to longer commutes? A gravity model of commuting flows in Ireland," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(2), pages 264-279, February.
    3. Dimitrios Tsiotas & Vassilis Tselios, 2023. "Dimension Reduction in the Topology of Multilayer Spatial Networks: The Case of the Interregional Commuting in Greece," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 97-133, March.
    4. Dimitrios Tsiotas & George Aspridis & Ioannis Gavardinas & Labros Sdrolias & Dagmar Škodová-Parmová, 2019. "Gravity modeling in social science: the case of the commuting phenomenon in Greece," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 139-158, June.
    5. Javier Rubio-Herrero & Jesús Muñuzuri, 2021. "Indirect estimation of interregional freight flows with a real-valued genetic algorithm," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 257-282, February.
    6. Cabrera Delgado, Jorge & Bonnel, Patrick, 2016. "Level of aggregation of zoning and temporal transferability of the gravity distribution model: The case of Lyon," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 17-26.
    7. Ahlfeldt, Gabriel M. & Wendland, Nicolai, 2016. "The spatial decay in commuting probabilities: Employment potential vs. commuting gravity," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 125-129.
    8. Umut Türk, 2019. "Socio-Economic Determinants of Student Mobility and Inequality of Access to Higher Education in Italy," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 125-148, March.
    9. Umut T¨¹rk, 2018. "Higher Education in Italy: Spatial Accessibility, Participation and Drop-outs," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(1), pages 38-50, March.
    10. Thomas, T. & Tutert, S.I.A., 2013. "An empirical model for trip distribution of commuters in The Netherlands: transferability in time and space reconsidered," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 158-165.
    11. Gjestland, Arnstein & McArthur, David Philip & Osland, Liv & Thorsen, Inge, 2014. "The suitability of hedonic models for cost-benefit analysis: Evidence from commuting flows," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 136-151.
    12. Heuermann, Daniel F. & Schmieder, Johannes F., 2014. "Warping Space: High-Speed Rail and Returns to Scale in Local Labor Markets," VfS Annual Conference 2014 (Hamburg): Evidence-based Economic Policy 100293, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spatial parameter stability; Transferability tests; Commuting; Spatial transferability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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