Characterisation and comparison of gender-specific utility functions of shopping duration episodes

This paper reports the results of an analysis of gender differences in the parameters of utility functions derived from activity duration data. The estimated utility functions allow a comparison of the marginal utility, inflection point and the (a)symmetry of the utility of activity duration. Some significant differences between men and women are found. The results of the analyses indicate that the utility that men and women derive from basic in-home leisure activities is more or less the same. Gender differences were found for out-of-home activities, including grocery and non-grocery shopping activities.