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Social Distancing and Social Capital: Why U.S. Counties Respond Differently to COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Wenzhi Ding
  • Ross Levine
  • Chen Lin
  • Wensi Xie

Abstract

Since social distancing is the primary strategy for slowing the spread of many diseases, understanding why U.S. counties respond differently to COVID-19 is critical for designing effective public policies. Using daily data from about 45 million mobile phones to measure social distancing we examine how counties responded to both local COVID-19 cases and statewide shelter-in-place orders. We find that social distancing increases more in response to cases and official orders in counties where individuals historically (1) engaged less in community activities and (2) demonstrated greater willingness to incur individual costs to contribute to social objectives. Our work highlights the importance of these two features of social capital—community engagement and individual commitment to societal institutions—in formulating public health policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenzhi Ding & Ross Levine & Chen Lin & Wensi Xie, 2020. "Social Distancing and Social Capital: Why U.S. Counties Respond Differently to COVID-19," NBER Working Papers 27393, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27393
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zingales, Luigi & Barrios, John & Benmelech, Efraim & Hochberg, Yael & Sapienza, Paola, 2020. "Civic Capital and Social Distancing during the Covid-19 Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 14900, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Rupasingha, Anil & Goetz, Stephan J. & Freshwater, David, 2006. "The production of social capital in US counties," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 83-101, February.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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