Working Paper: NBER ID: w27211
Authors: Ying Fan; A Yeim Orhun; Dana Turjeman
Abstract: During a pandemic, an individual's choices can determine outcomes not only for the individual but also for the entire community. Beliefs, constraints and preferences may shape behavior. This paper documents demographic differences in behaviors, beliefs, constraints and risk preferences across gender, income and political affiliation lines during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Our main analyses are based on data from an original nationally representative survey covering 5,500 adult respondents in the U.S. We find substantial gaps in behaviors and beliefs across gender, income and partisanship lines; in constraints across income levels; and in risk tolerance among men and women. Based on location data from a large sample of smartphones, we also document significant differences in mobility across demographics, which are consistent with our findings based on the survey data.
Keywords: COVID-19; risk tolerance; demographics; social distancing; public health
JEL Codes: D81; D84; D91; H41; I12; I18
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Income Level (D31) | Mobility Decisions (J62) |
| Beliefs (D83) | Actions (Y60) |
| Gender (J16) | Social Distancing Behaviors (C92) |
| Political Affiliation (K16) | Behavioral Responses (D91) |
| Risk Tolerance (G11) | Behavioral Responses (D91) |
| Gender (J16) | Risk Tolerance (G11) |
| Political Affiliation (K16) | Risk Tolerance (G11) |