Unmasking partisanship: Polarization undermines public response to collective risk

Maria Milosh, Marcus Painter, Konstantin Sonin, David Van Dijcke and Austin L. Wright

Journal of Public Economics, 2021, vol. 204, issue C

Abstract: Political polarization may undermine public policy response to collective risk, especially in periods of crisis when political actors have incentives to manipulate public perceptions. We study these dynamics in the U.S., focusing on how partisanship has influenced the use of face masks to stem the spread of COVID-19. Using a variety of approaches, we find partisanship is the single most important predictor of mask use and local policy interventions do not offset this relationship.

Keywords: Partisanship; Polarization; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Unmasking Partisanship: Polarization Undermines Public Response to Collective Risk (2020)
Working Paper: Unmasking Partisanship: Polarization Undermines Public Response to Collective Risk (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:204:y:2021:i:c:s0047272721001742

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104538

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