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Intervention and information effects at the individual level during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

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  • Mateus Silva Chang
  • Isamu Yamamoto

Abstract

This paper estimated the impact of intervention effects (state of emergency (SOE) or quasi-SOE requirements) and information effects (publicized increases in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths and fear of infection) on preventive behaviors and telecommuting during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Japan Household Panel Survey. Our results indicated that SOEs and quasi-SOEs had positive effects on the adoption of preventive behaviors among individuals, including handwashing, which indicates that an SOE has a direct effect and an indirect effect. Although SOEs in Japan were less enforceable and more lenient than those in other countries, they still had a certain effect on people’s adoption of preventive behaviors. However, the contribution of information effects was much larger than that of intervention effects, suggesting the importance of how and when information should be communicated to the public to prevent the spread of infection.

Suggested Citation

  • Mateus Silva Chang & Isamu Yamamoto, 2023. "Intervention and information effects at the individual level during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(11), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0294189
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294189
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Goolsbee, Austan & Syverson, Chad, 2021. "Fear, lockdown, and diversion: Comparing drivers of pandemic economic decline 2020," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    2. repec:plo:pone00:0234292 is not listed on IDEAS
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