Social Networks Shape Beliefs and Behavior: Evidence from Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Michael Bailey, Drew M. Johnston, Martin Koenen, Theresa Kuchler, Dominic Russel and Johannes Stroebel

No 28234, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We show that social network exposure to COVID-19 cases shapes individuals’ beliefs and behaviors concerning the coronavirus. We use de-identified data from Facebook to document that individuals with friends in areas with worse COVID-19 outbreaks reduce their mobility more than otherwise similar individuals with friends in less affected areas. The effects are quantitatively large and long-lasting: a one standard deviation increase in friend-exposure to COVID-19 cases in March 2020 results in a 1.2 percentage point increase in the probability of staying home on a given day through at least the end of May 2020. As the pandemic progresses—and the characteristics of individuals with the highest friend-exposure vary— changes in friend-exposure continue to drive changes in social distancing behavior, ruling out many unobserved effects as drivers of our results. We also show that individuals with higher friend-exposure to COVID-19 are more likely to publicly post in support of social distancing measures and less likely to be members of groups advocating to "reopen" the economy. These findings suggest that friends can influence individuals’ beliefs about the risks of the disease and thereby induce them to engage in mitigating public health behavior.

JEL-codes: D83 D85 H0 I0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-net and nep-soc
Note: AG AP CF EFG EH LS POL PE
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

Published as Michael Bailey & Drew Johnston & Martin Koenen & Theresa Kuchler & Dominic Russel & Johannes Stroebel, 2024. "Social Networks Shape Beliefs and Behavior: Evidence from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics, vol 2(3), pages 463-494.

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Journal Article: Social Networks Shape Beliefs and Behavior: Evidence from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic (2024)
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