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The effect of attitudes on reference-dependent preferences: Estimation and validation for the case of alternative-fuel vehicles

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  • Mabit, Stefan L.
  • Cherchi, Elisabetta
  • Jensen, Anders F.
  • Jordal-Jørgensen, Jørgen

Abstract

Several recent studies in transportation have analysed how choices made by individuals are influenced by attitudes. Other studies have contributed to our understanding of apparently non-rational behaviour by examining how choices may reflect reference-dependent preferences. This paper examines how reference-dependent preferences and attitudes together may explain individual choices. In a modelling framework based on a hybrid choice model allowing for both concepts, we investigate how attitudes and reference-dependent preferences interact and how they affect willingness-to-pay measures and demand elasticities. Using a data set with stated choices among alternative-fuel vehicles, we see that allowing for reference-dependent preferences improves our ability to explain the stated choices in the data and that the attitude (appreciation of car features) explains part of the preference heterogeneity across individuals. The results indicate that individuals have reference-dependent preferences that could be explained by loss aversion and that these are indeed related to an individual’s attitude towards car features. The models are validated using a large hold-out sample. This shows that the inclusion of attitudes improves the models’ ability to explain behaviour in the hold-out sample. While neither reference-dependent preferences nor the attitude affect the average willingness-to-pay measures in our sample, their effect on choice behaviour has implications for policy recommendations as segments with varying attitudes and reference values will act differently when affected by policy instruments related to the demand for alternative-fuel vehicles, e.g. subsidies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mabit, Stefan L. & Cherchi, Elisabetta & Jensen, Anders F. & Jordal-Jørgensen, Jørgen, 2015. "The effect of attitudes on reference-dependent preferences: Estimation and validation for the case of alternative-fuel vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 17-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:82:y:2015:i:c:p:17-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2015.08.006
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    2. Nie, Yu (Marco) & Ghamami, Mehrnaz & Zockaie, Ali & Xiao, Feng, 2016. "Optimization of incentive polices for plug-in electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 103-123.
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    8. Kim, Kyungah & Lee, Jongsu & Kim, Junghun, 2021. "Can liquefied petroleum gas vehicles join the fleet of alternative fuel vehicles? Implications of transportation policy based on market forecast and environmental impact," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    9. Moon, Sungho & Kim, Kyungah & Seung, Hyunchan & Kim, Junghun, 2022. "Strategic analysis on effects of technologies, government policies, and consumer perceptions on diffusion of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    10. Iogansen, Xiatian & Wang, Kailai & Bunch, David & Matson, Grant & Circella, Giovanni, 2023. "Deciphering the factors associated with adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in California: An investigation of latent attitudes, socio-demographics, and neighborhood effects," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Kim, Junghun & Seung, Hyunchan & Lee, Jongsu & Ahn, Joongha, 2020. "Asymmetric preference and loss aversion for electric vehicles: The reference-dependent choice model capturing different preference directions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
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    13. Hackbarth, André & Madlener, Reinhard, 2018. "Combined Vehicle Type and Fuel Type Choices of Private Households: An Empirical Analysis for Germany," FCN Working Papers 17/2018, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), revised May 2019.

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