Pandemic responsiveness: Evidence from social distancing and lockdown policy during COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: We study changes in social distancing and government policy in response to local outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using aggregated county-level data from approximately 20 million smartphones in the United States, we show that social distancing behaviors have responded to local outbreaks: a 1% increase in new cases (deaths) is associated with a 3% (11%) increase in social distancing intensity. Responsiveness is reinforced by the presence of public measures restricting movements, but remains significant in their absence. Responsiveness is higher in high-income, more educated, or Democrat-leaning counties, and in counties with low health insurance coverage. By contrast, social capital and vulnerability to infection are strongly associated with more social distancing but not with more r

SUBMITTER: Besley T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9119550 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature