Work-Related and Personal Predictors of COVID-19 Transmission

Paul Anand (), Heidi Allen, Robert Ferrer, Natalie Gold, Rolando Gonzales Martínez, Evan Kontopantelis, Melanie Krause and Francis Vergunst
Additional contact information
Paul Anand: The Open University
Heidi Allen: Columbia University
Robert Ferrer: University of Texas at Dallas
Natalie Gold: University of Oxford
Evan Kontopantelis: University of Manchester
Melanie Krause: University College London
Francis Vergunst: University of Montreal

No 13493, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The paper provides new evidence from a survey of 2000 individuals in the US and UK related to predictors of Covid-19 transmission. Specifically, it investigates work and personal predictors of transmission experience reported by respondents using regression models to better understand possible transmission pathways and mechanisms in the community. Three themes emerge from the analysis. Firstly, transport roles and travelling practices are significant predictors of infection. Secondly, evidence from the US especially shows union membership, consultation over safety measures and the need to use public transport to get to work are also significant predictors. This is interpreted as evidence of the role of deprivation and of reactive workplace consultations. Thirdly and finally, there is some, often weaker, evidence that income, car-owership, use of a shared kitchen, university degree type, riskaversion, extraversion and height are predictors of transmission. The comparative nature of the evidence indicates that the less uniformly stringent nature of the US lockdown provides more information about both structural and individual factors that predict transmission. The evidence about height is discussed in the context of the aerosol transmission debate. The paper concludes that both structural and individual factors must be taken into account when predicting transmission or designing effective public health measures and messages to prevent or contain transmission.

Keywords: risk preference; deprivation; workplace; transport; predictors; transmission; COVID-19; extraversion; height; US; UK (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 I12 I14 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2020-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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Published - published as 'Work-related and personal predictors of COVID-19 transmission: evidence from the UK and USA' in: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2022, 76, 152 - 157

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