Risk attitudes and human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic

Scientific Reports
Ho Fai ChanBenno Torgler

Abstract

Behavioural responses to pandemics are less shaped by actual mortality or hospitalisation risks than they are by risk attitudes. We explore human mobility patterns as a measure of behavioural responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results indicate that risk-taking attitudes are a critical factor in predicting reductions in human mobility and social confinement around the globe. We find that the sharp decline in mobility after the WHO (World Health Organization) declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic can be attributed to risk attitudes. Our results suggest that regions with risk-averse attitudes are more likely to adjust their behavioural activity in response to the declaration of a pandemic even before official government lockdowns. Further understanding of the basis of responses to epidemics, e.g., precautionary behaviour, will help improve the containment of the spread of the virus.

References

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Jul 18, 2020·The Lancet Infectious Diseases·Javier Perez-SaezUNKNOWN Serocov-POP Study Group
Aug 25, 2020·Air Quality, Atmosphere, & Health·Muhammad Farhan BashirLuqman Shahzad

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