Compliance with COVID-19 Social-Distancing Measures in Italy: The Role of Expectations and Duration

Guglielmo Briscese, Nicola Lacetera, Mario Macis and Mirco Tonin

No 13092, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We study how intentions to comply with the self-isolation restrictions enacted in Italy in response to the COVID-19 crisis respond to the length of their possible extension. Based on a survey of a representative sample of Italian residents (N=894), we find that respondents who are positively surprised by a given hypothetical extension (i.e. the extension is shorter than what they expected) are more willing to increase their self-isolation. In contrast, negative surprises (extensions longer than expected) relate with a lower willingness to comply. In a context where individual compliance has collective benefits, but full enforcement is costly and controversial, communication and persuasion have a fundamental role. Our findings provide insights to public authorities on how to announce lockdown measures and manage people's expectations.

Keywords: social distancing; compliance; expectations; COVID-19; behavioural change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D84 D91 H12 I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2020-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (92)

Published - published as ' Expectations, reference points, and compliance with COVID-19 social distancing measures' in: Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics , 2023, 103, 101983

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Working Paper: Compliance with Covid-19 Social-Distancing Measures in Italy: The Role of Expectations and Duration (2020)
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