Abstract
A daily tour choice model is developed for workers by hypothesizing structural relationships between activity-travel participation (time use) and choice of work and non-work tours. The model reflects tour behavior at three intervals: 3 years before the 2009 recession, during the recession, and three years after. Multiple-group structural equation models (SEM) enable an investigation of interrelationships between work (both at home and out-of-home) and non-work (out-of-home) activity time by time-of-day, by associated travel times, and the choice of tour type. The effects of socio-demographic variables on each of the activity-travel time and tour choice variables are also captured. The model also allows comparison among these relationships across pre-, during, and post-recession years. Using data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), the study shows that activity-travel relationships and their influence on tour choice differed significantly in the recession year (2009) compared to pre- and post-recession years. For example, during the recession people working at home preferred making out-of-home non-work activities before starting work. In the same year, the likelihood of people with multiple jobs choosing work-only tours increased. The research findings advance the understanding of tour choice as well as activity-travel behavioral change of workers during an economic downturn.