Risk attitudes and human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic

Titelangaben

Chan, Ho Fai ; Skali, Ahmed ; Savage, David A. ; Stadelmann, David ; Torgler, Benno:
Risk attitudes and human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In: Scientific Reports. Bd. 10 (2020) . - 19931.
ISSN 2045-2322
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76763-2

Volltext

Link zum Volltext (externe URL):

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.