Risk Perception Through the Lens of Politics in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic
John Barrios and
Yael Hochberg
No 27008, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc
Abstract:
Even when, objectively speaking, death is on the line, partisan bias still colors beliefs about facts. We show that a higher share of Trump voters in a county is associated with lower perceptions of risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Trump voter share rises, individuals search less for information on the virus, and engage in less social distancing behavior, as measured by smartphone location patterns. These patterns persist in the face of state-level mandates to close schools and businesses or to “stay home,” and reverse only when conservative politicians are exposed and the White House releases federal social distancing guidelines.
JEL-codes: D8 I1 L82 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-pol and nep-ure
Note: EH POL
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