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Do COVID-19 Containment Measures Work? Evidence from Switzerland

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Abstract

We study the interplay of non-pharmaceutical containment measures, human behavior, and the spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland. First, we collect sub-national data and construct indices that capture the stringency of containment measures at the cantonal level. Second, we use a vector autoregressive (VAR) model to analyze feedback effects between our variables of interest via structural impulse responses. Our results suggest that increases in the stringency of containment measures lead to a significant reduction of weekly infections as well as debit card transactions, which serve as a proxy for behavioral changes in the population. Furthermore, analyzing different policy measures individually shows that business closures, recommendations to work from home, and restrictions on gatherings have been particularly effective in containing the spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland. Finally, our findings indicate a sizeable voluntary reduction in debit card transactions in response to a positive infection shock.

Suggested Citation

  • Regina Pleninger & Sina Streicher & Jan-Egbert Sturm, 2021. "Do COVID-19 Containment Measures Work? Evidence from Switzerland," KOF Working papers 21-494, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:kof:wpskof:21-494
    DOI: 10.3929/ethz-b-000493408
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Bolli & Guillaume Morlet, 2023. "Does human capital theory govern the relationship between training provision and the business cycle? Evidence from Switzerland," French Stata Users' Group Meetings 2023 26, Stata Users Group.
    2. Deml, Michael J. & Minnema, Julia & Dubois, Julie & Senn, Oliver & Streit, Sven & Rachamin, Yael & Jungo, Katharina Tabea, 2022. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continuity of care for at-risk patients in Swiss primary care settings: A mixed-methods study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    3. Maximilian von Ehrlich, Frederic Kluser, 2024. "Determinants of Online Shopping Behavior," Diskussionsschriften credresearchpaper47, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft - CRED.
    4. Schroeter, Sofia & Lalive, Rafael & Karunanethy, Kalaivani, 2024. "School Closures and Parental Labor Supply: Differential Effects of Anticipated and Unanticipated Closures," IZA Discussion Papers 17371, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Emanuel Nussli & Simon Hediger & Meta-Lina Spohn & Marloes H. Maathuis, 2024. "The effect of a strict facial-mask policy on the spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland during the early phase of the pandemic," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 160(1), pages 1-20, December.
    6. Anderes, Marc & Pichler, Stefan, 2023. "Mental health effects of social distancing in Switzerland," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    7. Daniel Goller & Stefan C. Wolter, 2021. "“Too shocked to search” The COVID-19 shutdowns’ impact on the search for apprenticeships," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 157(1), pages 1-15, December.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • R59 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Other

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