Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Self-Protecting Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nicholas Papageorge, Matthew V. Zahn (), Michèle Belot, Eline van den Broek-Altenburg, Syngjoo Choi, Julian C. Jamison () and Egon Tripodi
Additional contact information
Matthew V. Zahn: Johns Hopkins University
Eline van den Broek-Altenburg: University of Vermont
Julian C. Jamison: University of Exeter

No 13333, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Disease spread is in part a function of individual behavior. We examine the factors predicting individual behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States using novel data collected by Belot et al. (2020). Among other factors, we show that people with lower income, less flexible work arrangements (e.g., an inability to tele-work) and lack of outside space at home are less likely to engage in behaviors, such as social distancing, that limit the spread of disease. We also find evidence that region, gender and beliefs predict behavior. Broadly, our findings align with typical relationships between health and socio-economic status. Moreover, they suggest that the burden of measures designed to stem the pandemic are unevenly distributed across socio-demographic groups in ways that affect behavior and thus potentially the spread of illness. Policies that assume otherwise are unlikely to be effective or sustainable.

Keywords: behavior; income; health; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 53 pages
Date: 2020-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (47)

Published - published in: Journal of Population Economics, 2021, 34, 691–738

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Journal Article: Socio-demographic factors associated with self-protecting behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic (2021)
Working Paper: Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Self-Protecting Behavior during the Covid-19 Pandemic (2020)
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