IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/netspa/v19y2019i4d10.1007_s11067-019-09468-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Moving Towards a More Accurate Level of Inspection Against Fare Evasion in Proof-of-Payment Transit Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Benedetto Barabino

    (University of Cagliari
    CTM SpA)

  • Sara Salis

    (CTM SpA)

Abstract

This paper proposes an accurate economic framework to determine the optimum inspection level—the number of ticket inspectors—in a long time window, in order to maximize the system-wide profit when fare evasion occurs. This is the first framework that introduces: i) a refined characterization of the passenger demand, ii) a profit function with new constraints, iii) an alternative estimation of the percentage of passengers who choose to evade, and iv) a new formulation accounting for inspectors who cannot fine every passenger caught evading. The implementation of this framework is illustrated by using six years of data gathered from an Italian public transport company. Based on 57,256 stop-level inspections and 21,827 on-board personal interviews, the optimum inspection rate maximizing the profit is in the range of 3.4%-4.0%. This outcome provides more accurate results, which are discussed and compared to previous research. Finally, the framework is flexible, and it may be applied to any urban context in which proof-of-payment systems are adopted.

Suggested Citation

  • Benedetto Barabino & Sara Salis, 2019. "Moving Towards a More Accurate Level of Inspection Against Fare Evasion in Proof-of-Payment Transit Systems," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1319-1346, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:netspa:v:19:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11067-019-09468-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11067-019-09468-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11067-019-09468-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11067-019-09468-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhi-Chun Li & William Lam & S. Wong, 2009. "The Optimal Transit Fare Structure under Different Market Regimes with Uncertainty in the Network," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 9(2), pages 191-216, June.
    2. Bucciol, Alessandro & Landini, Fabio & Piovesan, Marco, 2013. "Unethical behavior in the field: Demographic characteristics and beliefs of the cheater," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 248-257.
    3. Uri Gneezy, 2005. "Deception: The Role of Consequences," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(1), pages 384-394, March.
    4. Barabino, Benedetto & Salis, Sara & Useli, Bruno, 2014. "Fare evasion in proof-of-payment transit systems: Deriving the optimum inspection level," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-17.
    5. Sasaki, Yasuo, 2014. "Optimal choices of fare collection systems for public transportations: Barrier versus barrier-free," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 107-114.
    6. Delbosc, Alexa & Currie, Graham, 2016. "Cluster analysis of fare evasion behaviours in Melbourne, Australia," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 29-36.
    7. Jean-Baptiste Suquet, 2010. "Drawing the line: how inspectors enact deviant behaviors," Post-Print hal-01133097, HAL.
    8. Barabino, Benedetto & Salis, Sara & Useli, Bruno, 2013. "A modified model to curb fare evasion and enforce compliance: Empirical evidence and implications," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 29-39.
    9. Barabino, Benedetto & Salis, Sara & Useli, Bruno, 2015. "What are the determinants in making people free riders in proof-of-payment transit systems? Evidence from Italy," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 184-196.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Oscar Egu & Patrick Bonnel, 2020. "Can we estimate accurately fare evasion without a survey? Results from a data comparison approach in Lyon using fare collection data, fare inspection data and counting data," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Boyd, Colin, 2020. "Revisiting the foundations of fare evasion research," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 313-324.
    3. Ramos, Raúl & Silva, Hugo E., 2023. "Fare evasion in public transport: How does it affect the optimal design and pricing?," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    4. Shane D. Sanders, 2024. "Wages, Talent, and Demand for NCAA Sport After the Alston v. NCAA Antitrust Case," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 25(2), pages 169-185, February.
    5. Celse, Jérémy & Grolleau, Gilles, 2023. "Fare evasion and information provision: What information should be provided to reduce fare-evasion?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 119-128.
    6. Evgeny Alexandrovich Uvarov, 2020. "The Scale of the Shadow Economy in the Sphere of Urban and Suburban Passenger Transportation in Regions of Russia," Spatial Economics=Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika, Economic Research Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Khabarovsk, Russia), issue 2, pages 124-141.
    7. Guzman, Luis A. & Arellana, Julian & Camargo, José Pablo, 2021. "A hybrid discrete choice model to understand the effect of public policy on fare evasion discouragement in Bogotá's Bus Rapid Transit," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 140-153.
    8. Benedetto Barabino & Sara Salis, 2023. "Segmenting fare-evaders by tandem clustering and logistic regression models," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 61-96, March.
    9. Martin Besfamille & Nicolás Figueroa & León Guzmán, 2022. "Fare Evasion and Monopoly Regulation," Documentos de Trabajo 566, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    10. Porath, Keiko & Galilea, Patricia, 2020. "Temporal analysis of fare evasion in Transantiago: A socio-political view," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    11. Brotcorne, L. & Escalona, P. & Fortz, B. & Labbé, M., 2021. "Fare inspection patrols scheduling in transit systems using a Stackelberg game approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1-20.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ramos, Raúl & Silva, Hugo E., 2023. "Fare evasion in public transport: How does it affect the optimal design and pricing?," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Barabino, Benedetto & Salis, Sara & Useli, Bruno, 2015. "What are the determinants in making people free riders in proof-of-payment transit systems? Evidence from Italy," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 184-196.
    3. Elmar Wilhelm M. Fürst & David M. Herold, 2018. "Fare Evasion and Ticket Forgery in Public Transport: Insights from Germany, Austria and Switzerland," Societies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Guzman, Luis A. & Arellana, Julian & Camargo, José Pablo, 2021. "A hybrid discrete choice model to understand the effect of public policy on fare evasion discouragement in Bogotá's Bus Rapid Transit," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 140-153.
    5. Benedetto Barabino & Cristian Lai & Alessandro Olivo, 2020. "Fare evasion in public transport systems: a review of the literature," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 27-88, March.
    6. Felipe González & Carolina Busco & Katheryn Codocedo, 2019. "Fare Evasion in Public Transport: Grouping Transantiago Users’ Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Delbosc, Alexa & Currie, Graham, 2016. "Cluster analysis of fare evasion behaviours in Melbourne, Australia," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 29-36.
    8. Porath, Keiko & Galilea, Patricia, 2020. "Temporal analysis of fare evasion in Transantiago: A socio-political view," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Benedetto Barabino & Sara Salis, 2023. "Segmenting fare-evaders by tandem clustering and logistic regression models," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 61-96, March.
    10. Boyd, Colin, 2020. "Revisiting the foundations of fare evasion research," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 313-324.
    11. Oscar Egu & Patrick Bonnel, 2020. "Can we estimate accurately fare evasion without a survey? Results from a data comparison approach in Lyon using fare collection data, fare inspection data and counting data," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, March.
    12. Troncoso, Rodrigo & de Grange, Louis, 2017. "Fare evasion in public transport: A time series approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 311-318.
    13. Allen, Jaime & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "On evasion behaviour in public transport: Dissatisfaction or contagion?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 626-651.
    14. Nourinejad, Mehdi & Gandomi, Amir & Roorda, Matthew J., 2020. "Illegal parking and optimal enforcement policies with search friction," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    15. Meng, Meng & Rau, Andreas & Mahardhika, Hita, 2018. "Public transport travel time perception: Effects of socioeconomic characteristics, trip characteristics and facility usage," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 114(PA), pages 24-37.
    16. Åse Jevinger & Jan A. Persson, 2019. "Exploring the potential of using real-time traveler data in public transport disturbance management," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 413-441, August.
    17. Celse, Jérémy & Grolleau, Gilles, 2023. "Fare evasion and information provision: What information should be provided to reduce fare-evasion?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 119-128.
    18. Martina Manfre' & Viola Angelini, 2018. "Does The Financial Situation affect Cheating Behavior? An Investigation through Financial Literacy," Working Papers 06/2018, University of Verona, Department of Economics.
    19. Munizaga, Marcela A. & Gschwender, Antonio & Gallegos, Nestor, 2020. "Fare evasion correction for smartcard-based origin-destination matrices," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 307-322.
    20. Chung, Yi-Shih & Chiou, Yu-Chiun, 2017. "Willingness-to-pay for a bus fare reform: A contingent valuation approach with multiple bound dichotomous choices," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 289-304.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:netspa:v:19:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11067-019-09468-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.