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Partisan Differences in Social Distancing May Originate in Norms and Beliefs: Results from Novel Data

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  • Jennifer D. Wu
  • Gregory A. Huber

Abstract

Objective Recent academic work on the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has established a persistent difference between Democrats and Republicans in social distancing behaviors. We uncover a potential explanation for this difference—social norms and beliefs. Methods We use a series of ordinary least squares regression specifications on novel survey data collected in April through June of 2020. Results We find that Democrats are more likely to report social distancing than are Republicans, even after controlling for a range of demographic variables that might otherwise account for differences in social distancing and that these differences are found in partisans’ norms and beliefs around social distancing. Our main analysis shows that the partisan difference in social distancing disappears when we control for social norms and beliefs, suggesting their salience in changing social distancing behaviors. Conclusion Our results contribute to current research focused on mitigating the spread of COVID‐19 by highlighting a mechanism, norms and beliefs, for interventions to target.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer D. Wu & Gregory A. Huber, 2021. "Partisan Differences in Social Distancing May Originate in Norms and Beliefs: Results from Novel Data," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(5), pages 2251-2265, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:5:p:2251-2265
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12947
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Allcott, Hunt & Boxell, Levi & Conway, Jacob & Gentzkow, Matthew & Thaler, Michael & Yang, David, 2020. "Polarization and public health: Partisan differences in social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    2. Nicholas W. Papageorge & Matthew V. Zahn & Michèle Belot & Eline Broek-Altenburg & Syngjoo Choi & Julian C. Jamison & Egon Tripodi, 2021. "Socio-demographic factors associated with self-protecting behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(2), pages 691-738, April.
    3. Cristina Bicchieri & Eugen Dimant, 2022. "Nudging with care: the risks and benefits of social information," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 191(3), pages 443-464, June.
    4. Gerber, Alan S. & Green, Donald P. & Larimer, Christopher W., 2008. "Social Pressure and Voter Turnout: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 102(1), pages 33-48, February.
    5. Gerber, Alan S. & Huber, Gregory A. & Doherty, David & Dowling, Conor M., 2016. "Why People Vote: Estimating the Social Returns to Voting," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(2), pages 241-264, April.
    6. White, Ismail K. & Laird, Chryl N. & Allen, Troy D., 2014. "Selling Out?: The Politics of Navigating Conflicts between Racial Group Interest and Self-interest," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 108(4), pages 783-800, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mónica Ferrín, 2022. "Reassessing Gender Differences in COVID‐19 Risk Perception and Behavior," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 103(1), pages 31-41, January.
    2. Mellacher, Patrick, 2023. "The impact of corona populism: Empirical evidence from Austria and theory," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 113-140.
    3. Yaoyao Dai & Jingjing Gao & Benjamin J. Radford, 2024. "From fear to hate: Sources of anti‐Asian sentiment during COVID‐19," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 105(3), pages 612-635, May.

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