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 (16 November 2020) . - No. 19931.
ISSN 2045-2322
DOI der Verlagsversion: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76763-2

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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.