Prosociality Predicts Individual Behavior and Collective Outcomes in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ximeng Fang (), Timo Freyer (), Chui Yee Ho (), Zihua Chen and Lorenz Goette

CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series from University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic induces a typical social dilemma situation, as engaging in preventive behaviors such as social distancing is costly for individuals, but generates benefits that accrue to society at large. The extent to which individuals internalize the social impact of their actions may depend on their (pro-)social preferences. We leverage a nationally representative survey in Germany (n = 5,843), conducted during the second coronavirus wave, to investigate the role of prosociality in reducing the spread of COVID-19. At the individual level, higher prosociality is strongly positively related to compliance with recommended public health behaviors. At the regional (NUTS-2) level, higher average prosociality is associated with significantly lower incidence and growth rates of COVID-19 infections. This association is robust to controlling for a host of regional socio-economic factors, and mediated by stronger average compliance with public health measures. Our correlational results thus confirm the notion that voluntary behavioral change due to prosocial motivations can play an important role in the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; collective action; prosociality; economic preferences; online survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D64 H41 I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31
Date: 2021-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-exp, nep-hea, nep-isf and nep-soc
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