Perceived Social Norm and Behavior Quickly Adjusted to Legal Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fortuna Casoria, Fabio Galeotti and Marie Claire Villeval

No 2022, Working Papers from Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon

Abstract: In response to the pandemic of COVID-19 and in lack of pharmaceutical solutions, many countries have introduced social and physical distancing regulations to contain the transmission of the virus. These measures are effective insofar as they are able to quickly change people’s habits. This is achieved by changing the monetary incentives of rule violators but also by shifting people’s perception regarding the appropriateness of socialization. We studied the effect of introducing, and then lifting, distancing regulations on the perceived norm regarding social encounters. We conducted an online incentivized experiment in France where we elicited the same participants’ perceived norm and social distancing behavior every week for three months. We found that people shifted behavior and norm perception as soon as the government introduced or removed distancing measures. This effect was fast acting and long lasting. This is informative for future interventions, especially in light of a possible COVID-19 recurrence.

Keywords: COVID-19; Social Distancing; Social Norms; Laws (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C9 D02 D91 H12 I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Perceived social norm and behavior quickly adjusted to legal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021)
Working Paper: Perceived social norm and behavior quickly adjusted to legal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021)
Working Paper: Perceived Social Norm and Behavior Quickly Adjusted to Legal Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gat:wpaper:2022

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