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Does aggressive tweeting by the government help to control the COVID‐19 outbreak? Evidence from China

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  • Shilin Zheng
  • Mengdan Li

Abstract

This paper estimates the role of the usage of the largest social media platform in China, Sina Weibo, by the Chinese government for controlling the COVID‐19 pandemic. Manually collected governmental microblogs about the COVID‐19 outbreak were analysed, which showed that a 10 per cent increase in the number of microblogs resulted in a 1.38 per cent decrease of confirmed COVID‐19 cases. This effect was more pronounced in areas with less restrained travel restrictions. The effect relies primarily on two mechanisms: encouraging home quarantine and promoting knowledge about COVID‐19 prevention.

Suggested Citation

  • Shilin Zheng & Mengdan Li, 2022. "Does aggressive tweeting by the government help to control the COVID‐19 outbreak? Evidence from China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 691-713, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ectrin:v:30:y:2022:i:4:p:691-713
    DOI: 10.1111/ecot.12318
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