Spreading the disease: Protest in times of pandemics

Martin Lange and Ole Monscheuer

No 21-009, ZEW Discussion Papers from ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Abstract: This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 deniers on the spread of COVID-19 in Germany. In a first step, we establish a link between regional proxies of COVID-19 deniers and infection rates. We then estimate the causal impact of large anti-lockdown protests on the spread of COVID-19 using an event study framework. Employing novel data on bus stops of travel companies specialized in driving protesters to these gatherings, and exploiting the timing of two large-scale demonstrations in November 2020, we find sizable increases in infection rates in protesters' origin regions after these demonstrations. Individual-level evidence supports the main results by documenting that COVID-19 deniers engage less in health protection behavior. Our results contribute to the debate about the public health costs of individual behavior that has detrimental externalities for the society.

Keywords: COVID-19 deniers; protests; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D62 I12 I18 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Journal Article: Spreading the disease: Protest in times of pandemics (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:zewdip:21009

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