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Compliance with Social Distancing: Theory and Empirical Evidence from Ontario during COVID-19

Author

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  • Anastasios Papanastasiou

    (Department of Economics, McMaster University, Canada)

  • Bradley J. Ruffle

    (Department of Economics, McMaster University, Canada; Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis)

  • Angela L. Zheng

    (Department of Economics, McMaster University, Canada)

Abstract

We study the factors associated with compliance with social-distancing regulations using a unique dataset on the behaviour of Ontarians during the COVID-19 pandemic. To start, we build a simple theoretical model of social distancing in order to understand how some individual and community-level factors influence compliance. We test our model’s predictions by designing and conducting a survey on Ontarians in which we elicit their degree of compliance with current distancing regulations as well as proposed regulations that impose different fine levels on violators or grant wage subsidies to encourage staying at home. In line with the model’s predictions, we show that variables related to one’s risk of infection (e.g., health status, age, necessity of working outside the home, regional COVID-19 cases) are significant predictors of compliance as are gender, political beliefs, risk and time preferences. Furthermore, we demonstrate that fines and wage subsidies can be powerful policy tools for promoting full compliance with regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Anastasios Papanastasiou & Bradley J. Ruffle & Angela L. Zheng, 2020. "Compliance with Social Distancing: Theory and Empirical Evidence from Ontario during COVID-19," Working Paper series 20-24, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
    • Handle: RePEc:rim:rimwps:20-24
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Maaz & Anastasios Papanastasiou & Bradley J. Ruffle & Angela L. Zheng, 2021. "Heterogeneity in the Support for Mandatory Masks Unveiled," Working Paper series 21-01, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
    2. Henrike Sternberg & Janina Isabel Steinert & Tim Büthe, 2023. "Compliance in the Public versus the Private Realm: Economic Preferences, Institutional Trust and COVID-19 Health Behaviors," Munich Papers in Political Economy 28, Munich School of Politics and Public Policy and the School of Management at the Technical University of Munich.
    3. James Allen IV & Arlete Mahumane & James Riddell IV & Tanya Rosenblat & Dean Yang & Hang Yu, 2021. "Correcting Perceived Social Distancing Norms to Combat COVID-19," NBER Working Papers 28651, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Shin, Su Hyun & Ji, Hyunjung & Lim, HanNa, 2021. "Heterogeneity in preventive behaviors during COVID-19: Health risk, economic insecurity, and slanted information," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    5. Daniel Goetz, 2022. "Does providing free internet access to low‐income households affect COVID‐19 spread?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(12), pages 2648-2663, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; physical distancing; non-compliance fines; wage subsidies; risk of infection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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