Global Behaviors and Perceptions at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Thiemo Fetzer, Marc Witte, Lukas Hensel, Jon M. Jachimowicz, Johannes Haushofer, Andriy Ivchenko, Stefano Caria, Elena Reutskaja, Christopher Roth, Stefano Fiorin, Margarita Gomez, Gordon Kraft-Todd, Friedrich M. Goetz and Erez Yoeli
Additional contact information
Marc Witte: University of Oxford
Jon M. Jachimowicz: Harvard University
Johannes Haushofer: Stockholm University and Princeton University
Andriy Ivchenko: ESCI School of International Business
Stefano Caria: University of Warwick
Elena Reutskaja: IESE Business School
Margarita Gomez: Blavatnik School of Government
Gordon Kraft-Todd: Boston College
Friedrich M. Goetz: University of British Columbia
Erez Yoeli: Sloan School of Management

CAGE Online Working Paper Series from Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE)

Abstract: We conducted a large-scale survey covering 58 countries and over 100,000 respondents between late March and early April 2020 to study beliefs and attitudes towards citizens’ and governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents reacted strongly to the crisis: they report engaging in social distancing and hygiene behaviors, and believe that strong policy measures, such as shop closures and curfews, are necessary. They also believe that their government and their country’s citizens are not doing enough and underestimate the degree to which others in their country support strong behavioral and policy responses to the pandemic. The perception of a weak government and public response is associated with higher levels of worries and depression. Using both cross-country panel data and an event-study, we additionally show that strong government reactions correct misperceptions, and reduce worries and depression. Our findings highlight that policy-makers not only need to consider how their decisions affect the spread of COVID-19, but also how such choices influence the mental health of their population.

Keywords: JEL; Classification: (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/c ... tions/wp472.2020.pdf

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Working Paper: Global Behaviors and Perceptions at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
Working Paper: Global Behaviors and Perceptions at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
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