Social Inequity In Transportation System: An Agent-Based Model

Abstract

Common mode-choice models developed under assumption that one will behave rationally to maximize her utility. Arguably, failed to address two key factors: additional income and local interaction.It is evident that most public transportation aims to reduce transport cost, which in result generates additional income and people interaction. Therefore, possible existence of phase in which people purchase automobile after additional income and social prestige is an attractive proposition. An agentbased model of artificial agents created and showed interaction with her neighbors and then update her state, either automobile or public transportation, according to probability function. The higher ratio of agent's wealth to her neighbors', the higher probability to purchase automobile. Our model suggests that transportation system is an ever-moving system of three states: transit-oriented, automobile-oriented, and equilibrium. It also describes inverse relation between state of the system and its social implications. By favoring the poor encourages people to view automobile much more prestigious than public transport, hence prestige-driven behavior emerged automobile-oriented system. The model could also be viewed as a generalized form of conventional model. It shows that rational behavior and utility maximization only occurs when purchasing automobiles is considered costly, thus, functionality and degree of necessity becomes critical.