Prawira Fajarindra Belgiawan

Mass effects and mobility decisions

Abstract This paper presents a review of the literature on mass effects and their importance in choice behavior, i.e. how individual behavior is influenced by the behavior of others, with the goal of extracting lessons for transportation policy. An overview of psychological theories explaining the process underlying mass effects and conformity behavior is given. This is followed by a presentation of evidence of mass effects on choice behavior both outside and within transportation planning, covering contexts ranging from long term choices such as residential location to short term decisions such as driving behavior. Based on this review, modeling approaches for studying mass effects and their data requirements are then synthesized, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each. The paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of leveraging the power of mass effects for designing transportation policies aimed at promoting sustainable and safe mobility, and of challenges for future work in this area.

Understanding car ownership motivations among Indonesian students

ABSTRACT Car and motorcycle ownership levels are increasing rapidly in southeast Asian developing countries, leading to unsustainable developments. In this article we focus on car ownership motivations in Bandung, Indonesia, where cars have become the main contributor to traffic congestion. We suggest that attitudes toward cars are important for explaining car ownership trends. Using data from 500 undergraduate students from one university in Bandung, this study constructs five factors regarding car perception through principle component analysis: symbolic/affective, arrogant prestige, independence, comfort, and social/env. care. These five factors plus some sociodemographic variables, such as monthly income, are used as explanatory variables for modeling car ownership using structural equation modeling. Our results suggest that primarily independence, arrogant prestige, and some sociodemographic variables significantly influence car purchase decisions. We discuss tentative implications for transport policy, given the limitations of our sample.

Analysis of car type preferences among students based on seemingly unrelated regression

Vehicle type purchase intentions are interesting from a marketing point of view, because car manufacturers are competing to attract potential buyers. Furthermore, from the point of view of transport planners as well as the government, there are environmental concerns. This study focused on students’ intention to purchase different types of vehicles. The study obtained a sample of 1,229 students from seven countries, to understand cultural differences in preferences. The dependent variables were intention to buy cars in different categories, including hybrid and electric cars. The aim was to explain intentions with three categories of explanatory variables: psychological aspects, sociodemographics, and site-specific dummy variables. To account for correlation between the dependent variables, the analysis used seemingly unrelated regression. The study found that attitudinal factors are significant, particularly for the intention to buy more environmentally friendly types of vehicles; the paper discusses policy implications. The study observed the importance of the symbolic-affective value of a car in explaining car type preferences, as well as the importance of awareness of the negative effects cars might have on the environment and society. It is suggested that these findings can be used to promote more environmentally friendly cars.