Social asset or social liability? How partisanship moderates the relationship between social capital and Covid-19 vaccination rates across United States counties

Zhiwei Zhang, Gao Liu, Bin Chen and Kun Huang

Social Science & Medicine, 2022, vol. 311, issue C

Abstract: This study investigates the interactive effect of social capital and partisanship on COVID-19 vaccination rates. Using county-level data from the United States (U.S.), we empirically find that social capital is a double-edged sword. Its effect on the vaccination rate depends on the dominant partisanship of the jurisdiction. In more liberal counties, stronger social capital is a social asset that encourages people to seek vaccination and results in a higher vaccination rate. In contrast, in more conservative counties where the Trump-voting rate reaches 73% and beyond, stronger social capital becomes a social liability for public health by reinforcing residents’ hesitancy toward or rejection of vaccinations, leading to a lower vaccination rate. This study implies the need for reducing the partisanship salience and investing in bridging and linking social capital in polarized communities.

Keywords: Social capital; Partisanship; COVID-19; Vaccination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:311:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622006311

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115325

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