Consumers and COVID-19: Survey Results on Mask-Wearing Behaviors and Beliefs

Alexander Dietrich, Edward Knotek, Gernot Müller, Kristian Ove R. Myrseth, Raphael Schoenle and Michael Weber

Economic Commentary, 2020, vol. 2020, issue 20, 7

Abstract: Masks or cloth face coverings have the potential to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 without greatly disrupting economic activity if they are widely used. To assess the state of mask wearing, we surveyed US consumers about their recent and prospective mask-wearing behavior. We find that most respondents are wearing masks in public but that some respondents are less likely to follow social-distancing guidelines while doing so, indicating a potential tradeoff between two of the recommended methods that jointly reduce coronavirus transmission. While most respondents indicated that they were extremely likely to wear a mask if required by public authorities, the reported likelihood is strongly dependent on age and perceived mask efficacy.

Keywords: COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.26509/frbc-ec-202020

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