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Coordination and Social Distancing: Inertia in the Aggregate Response to COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Mehdi Shadmehr

    (University of Chicago - Harris School of Public Policy)

  • Ethan Bueno de Mesquita

    (University of Chicago - Harris School of Public Policy)

Abstract

Social distancing which is critical for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 has been slow and inadequate. Applying the literature on beauty contest models, we show: (1) When a new and rare virus, like COVID-19, emerges, the aggregate level of social distancing has inherent inertia; (2) Clear national public statements are essential in reducing that inertia and adjusting the public's behavior to the new, optimal level of social distancing; (3) National communication is better than local communication when optimal social distancing levels are highly correlated over-time and when individuals are poorly-informed.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehdi Shadmehr & Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, 2020. "Coordination and Social Distancing: Inertia in the Aggregate Response to COVID-19," Working Papers 2020-53, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bfi:wpaper:2020-53
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    File URL: https://repec.bfi.uchicago.edu/RePEc/pdfs/BFI_WP_202053.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    6. Angeletos, G.-M. & Lian, C., 2016. "Incomplete Information in Macroeconomics," Handbook of Macroeconomics, in: J. B. Taylor & Harald Uhlig (ed.), Handbook of Macroeconomics, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 1065-1240, Elsevier.
    7. Darin Christensen & Oeindrila Dube & Johannes Haushofer & Bilal Siddiqi & Maarten Voors, 0. "Building Resilient Health Systems: Experimental Evidence from Sierra Leone and The 2014 Ebola Outbreak," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 136(2), pages 1145-1198.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guido Merzoni & Federico Trombetta, 2021. "A Note on Asymmetric Policies: Pandering and State-specific Costs of Mismatch in Political Agency," DISEIS - Quaderni del Dipartimento di Economia internazionale, delle istituzioni e dello sviluppo dis2102, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimento di Economia internazionale, delle istituzioni e dello sviluppo (DISEIS).
    2. Merzoni, Guido & Trombetta, Federico, 2022. "Pandering and state-specific costs of mismatch in political agency," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 132-143.
    3. Aaditya, Bh. & Rahul, T.M., 2021. "Psychological impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the mode choice behaviour: A hybrid choice modelling approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 47-58.
    4. Rahul Deb & Mallesh Pai & Akhil Vohra & Rakesh Vohra, 2022. "Testing alone is insufficient," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 26(1), pages 1-21, March.
    5. Bursztyn, Leonardo & Rao, Aakaash & Roth, Christopher & Yanagizawa-Drott, David, 2020. "Misinformation During a Pandemic," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 481, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    6. Leonardo Bursztyn & Aakaash Rao & Christopher Roth & David Yanagizawa-Drott, 2023. "Opinions as Facts," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(4), pages 1832-1864.
    7. Björn TOELSTEDE, 2022. "Conformity, polarization, and democratic dialogue in times of pathogen threats. Germany and the United States during Covid-19," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 13, pages 263-291, December.
    8. Chang, Dongkyu & Vong, Allen, 2025. "Perverse ethical concerns: Misinformation and coordination," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).

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