Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP18109
Authors: Christine Binzel; Andreas Link
Abstract: This paper studies the historical roots of vaccine hesitancy in the context of Germany. Using digitized data on the existence of naturopathic associations in Germany in the year 1900, we first show that counties with a large number of naturopathic associations in 1900 were disproportionally located in East Germany. Furthermore, counties with a higher number of naturopathic associations in 1900 have significantly lower COVID-19 vaccination rates today. Our IV estimates suggest that the long-term effects of the naturopathic movement can explain about half of the East–West gap in COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Keywords: persistence; vaccine hesitancy; naturopathy; COVID-19
JEL Codes: I10; N33; P25
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Historical presence of naturopathic associations in 1900 (N51) | COVID-19 vaccination rates today (Y10) |
| Number of naturopathic associations (Q29) | COVID-19 vaccination rates today (Y10) |
| Historical presence of naturopathic associations in 1900 (N51) | Measles vaccination rates (I18) |
| Naturopathic movement (I19) | COVID-19 vaccination rates (Y10) |
| Naturopathic movement (I19) | Measles vaccination rates (I18) |