Focus on Traveled Miles

This assignment provides instructions on building the graph below and includes writing prompts for out-of-class assignments.

Using GeoFRED® to Compare Mean Commuting Time for Workers

This assignment provides instructions on creating the map below and suggests prompts for in-class discussion. See how you do on our sample discussion question below.

Click on the map above to view an interactive version
Question: In 2018, which of these two counties reported longer mean commuting times for workers: Cook County, IL (home to the City of Chicago) or Los Angeles County, CA (home to the City of Los Angeles)?

Learning About the Economics of Travel to Forecast Changes in Gross Domestic Product

Travel and tourism contribute to gross domestic product (GDP). Read on for more details and a list of resources to become a better FREDcast forecaster.

BEA Headline:

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, “The U.S. outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.2 percent ($427.2 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017.”

Release Highlight:

“Total tourism-related nominal output increased to $1.87 trillion in 2018, a 7.1 percent increase from $1.75 trillion in 2017.”
https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/travel-and-tourism

Resources to become a better FREDcaster:

• Economic Synopses: “The Rise in Chinese Tourism and Its Effects on the Balance of Payments“
• Economic Synopses: “International Travel: Double Trouble“
• Regional Economist: “Working from Home: More Americans Are Telecommuting“
• Page One Economics®: “The Economics of Flying: How Competitive Are the Friendly Skies?“

Quiz Yourself on Different Aspects of the Economics of Travel

The load factor is a measure of use of aircraft capacity.

Q1. As of the fourth quarter of 2019, how full (in percent) were domestic passenger flights?

Q2. Between 2002 and 2019, did domestic passenger flights become more or less crowded?

Q3. Consider the regular ups and downs in the load factor during any given year. In which quarter are domestic passenger flights least crowded?

Q1. Between 1971 and 2019, did the number of miles traveled by road per person constantly increase?

Q2. At its peak in 2005, how many miles did a person, on average, travel by road?

Q1. Between 2000 and 2019, did the number of rail freight carloads and the number of miles traveled by rail by persons change in the same direction?

Q2. How did the number of rail freight carloads and the number of miles traveled by rail by persons change during the 2007-2009 recession?

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