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Individualism and the fight against COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Li Huang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Oliver Zhen Li

    (Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance)

  • Baiqiang Wang

    (Central University of Finance and Economics)

  • Zilong Zhang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

What is the role of societal culture in the individualism-collectivism paradigm in pandemic containment? In the prolonged fight against COVID-19, government-initiated non-pharmaceutical interventions critically hinges on citizens’ adherence to these restrictive policies. Using an international setting, this research shows that countries scoring high on individualism generally have a more severe COVID-19 situation throughout the trajectory of the pandemic. This link between individualism and the severity of the virus situation is plausibly due to social non-cooperativeness in individualistic countries which reduces the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed at mitigating the virus situation. Exploiting cultural disparity in the individualism-collectivism paradigm between former East and West German districts, this research further demonstrates that, after controlling for local characteristics that can affect the pandemic outcome, former East German districts have a less severe COVID-19 situation than former West German districts. Evidence collectively suggests that a greater reluctance among people in more individualistic cultures to heed virus-fighting policies impose a negative public health externality in a pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Huang & Oliver Zhen Li & Baiqiang Wang & Zilong Zhang, 2022. "Individualism and the fight against COVID-19," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:9:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01124-5
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01124-5
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    2. Vincent X. Wang & Xi Chen & Lily Lim & Chu-Ren Huang, 2023. "Framing Covid-19 reporting in the Macau Daily News using metaphors and gain/loss prospects: a war for collective gains," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Haibo Qin & Zhongxuan Xie & Huping Shang & Yong Sun & Xiaohui Yang & Mengming Li, 2024. "The mass public’s science literacy and co-production during the COVID-19 pandemic: empirical evidence from 140 cities in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.

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