A TRANSLOG APPROACH TO CONSUMER SPATIAL BEHAVIOR*

With the view that travel behavior stems from the principle of utility maximization, in this paper I present a spatial translog demand model that accounts for interdependence among travel alternatives and that handles varying elasticities of substitution for various destination pairs. Using simulation as the mode of inquiry, this model describes the effect of spatial size, spatial configuration, and spatial substitution on spatial interaction. In addition to indicating how varying spatial sizes and configurations affect the average trip length and the trip making pattern, the simulation results also point out the possible effect of having spatially dependent locations in the system. Competing destinations increase the attractiveness of nearby locations, and complementary destinations reduce the impeding effect of space. The model is primarily relevant to the demand for shopping trips.