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The COVID-19 pandemic reduces trust behavior

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  • Li, Jianbiao
  • Zhang, Yanan
  • Niu, Xiaofei

Abstract

We conduct an online experiment before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in China with four sampling waves and test the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on trust behavior. We find that COVID-19 pandemic reduces trust behavior. Belief in others’ trustworthiness is one potential mechanism underlying the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on trust behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Jianbiao & Zhang, Yanan & Niu, Xiaofei, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic reduces trust behavior," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:199:y:2021:i:c:s0165176520304602
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109700
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    11. Julio Torales & Marcelo O’Higgins & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia & Antonio Ventriglio, 2020. "The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 317-320, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bright Obuobi & Hong Wang & Faustina Awuah & Emmanuel Nketiah & Gibbson Adu-Gyamfi & Mavis Adjei, 2024. "The aftermath of COVID-19 impacts: examining the impact of COVID-19 on residents' current food waste behavior," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 25503-25526, October.
    2. repec:hal:wpaper:hal-03974756 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Yuan, Hang & Long, Qinyi & Huang, Guanglv & Huang, Liqin & Luo, Siyang, 2022. "Different roles of interpersonal trust and institutional trust in COVID-19 pandemic control," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    4. Cannonier, Colin & Burke, Monica Galloway, 2025. "Trust during troubled times: Evidence from Sierra Leone's Ebola epidemic," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    5. Zhang, Yanan & Li, Jianbiao & Cao, Qian & Niu, Xiaofei, 2024. "Institutional quarantine and economic preferences: Experimental evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Fortuna Casoria & Fabio Galeotti & Marie Claire Villeval, 2024. "Trust and Social Preferences in Times of Acute Health Crisis," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 154, pages 5-50.
    7. Bonvecchi, Alejandro & Calvo, Ernesto & Otálvaro-Ramírez, Susana & Scartascini, Carlos, 2022. "The Effect of a Crisis on Trust and Willingness to Reform: Evidence from Survey Panels in Argentina and Uruguay," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12359, Inter-American Development Bank.
    8. Fang, Guanfu & Tang, Tianyu & Zhao, Fang & Zhu, Ying, 2023. "The social scar of the pandemic: Impacts of COVID-19 exposure on interpersonal trust," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    9. Liu, Ning & Bao, Guoxian & Wu, Shaolong, 2023. "Social implications of Covid-19: Its impact on general trust, political trust, and trust in physicians in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    10. Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez & Marina Begoña Martínez-González & Juan Camilo Benitez-Agudelo & Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez & Ana Isabel Beltran-Velasco & Pablo Ruisoto & Esperanza Diaz Arroyo & Carmen C, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Disorders. A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
    11. Galdikiene, Laura & Jaraite, Jurate & Kajackaite, Agne, 2024. "Effects of cooperative and uncooperative narratives on trust during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experimental evidence," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    12. Bertholet Nicolás & Montes Rojas Gabriel & Toledo Fernando, 2024. "Estimación de curva de Phillips y cociente de sacrificio en Argentina. Un análisis empírico para el período 2003-2022," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4711, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.

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