Representing the Shape and Orientation of Destinations in Spatial Choice Models

This paper illustrates the importance of spatial unit shape and orientation in spatial choice analysis. It also examines the implications of assuming spatial units to be dimensionless points in this context. Through theory and simulation experiments, it is shown how these aspects cannot be ignored and how the ordinary multinomial logit model applied at the spatially aggregate level is particularly vulnerable to such oversights. The aggregated spatial logit model in the end is recommended as a general formulation which addresses many of these fundamental issues of interest to geographers and regional scientists.