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Using Insights from Behavioral Economics to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Moslem Soofi

    (Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences)

  • Farid Najafi

    (Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences)

  • Behzad Karami-Matin

    (Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences)

Abstract

The outbreak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a public health emergency of international concern. The number of COVID-infected individuals and related deaths continues to rise rapidly. Encouraging people to adopt and sustain preventive behaviors is a central focus of public health policies that seek to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Public health policy needs improved methods to encourage people to adhere to COVID-19-preventive behaviors. In this paper, we introduce a number of insights from behavioral economics that help explain why people may behave irrationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, present bias, status quo bias, framing effect, optimism bias, affect heuristic, and herding behavior are discussed. We hope this paper will shed light on how insights from behavioral economics can enrich public health policies and interventions in the fight against COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Moslem Soofi & Farid Najafi & Behzad Karami-Matin, 2020. "Using Insights from Behavioral Economics to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 345-350, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:aphecp:v:18:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s40258-020-00595-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s40258-020-00595-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reshmaan Hussam & Atonu Rabbani & Giovanni Reggiani & Natalia Rigol, 2017. "Habit Formation and Rational Addiction: A Field Experiment in Handwashing," Harvard Business School Working Papers 18-030, Harvard Business School.
    2. Coleman, Stephen, 2007. "The Minnesota Income Tax Compliance Experiment: Replication of the Social Norms Experiment," MPRA Paper 5820, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Chris Sampson’s journal round-up for 1st June 2020
      by Chris Sampson in The Academic Health Economists' Blog on 2020-06-01 11:00:00

    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    2. Alaeddine Mihoub & Hosni Snoun & Moez Krichen & Montassar Kahia & Riadh Bel Hadj Salah, 2020. "Predicting COVID-19 Spread Level using Socio-Economic Indicators and Machine Learning Techniques," Post-Print hal-03002886, HAL.
    3. Javier Cifuentes-Faura & Renaud Di Francesco, 2022. "Nanoeconomics of Households in Lockdown Using Agent Models during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Kaplan, Sigal & Tchetchik, Anat & Greenberg, Doron & Sapir, Itsik, 2022. "Transit use reduction following COVID-19: The effect of threat appraisal, proactive coping and institutional trust," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 338-356.
    5. Srisathan, Wutthiya A. & Naruetharadhol, Phaninee, 2022. "A COVID-19 disruption: The great acceleration of digitally planned and transformed behaviors in Thailand," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Kılıç, Hakan & Güneş, Evrim Didem, 2024. "Patient adherence in healthcare operations: A narrative review," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Juan Luis Delgado-Gallegos & Gerardo R. Padilla-Rivas & Lilia Julieta Gastelum-Arias & Erika Zuñiga-Violante & Gener Avilés-Rodríguez & Daniel Arellanos-Soto & Héctor Franco-Villareal & Elsa N. Garza-, 2021. "Parent’s Perspective towards Child COVID-19 Vaccination: An Online Cross-Sectional Study in Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Sumeet Lal & Trinh Xuan Thi Nguyen & Abdul-Salam Sulemana & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Yoshihiko Kadoya, 2023. "Time Discounting and Hand-Sanitization Behavior: Evidence from Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    9. Xixiang Sun & Weihuan Su & Xiaodong Guo & Ziyuan Tian, 2021. "The Impact of Awe Induced by COVID-19 Pandemic on Green Consumption Behavior in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Blas A. Marin-Lopez & David Jimenez-Gomez & José-María Abellán-Perpiñán, 2022. "Behavioral Economics in the Epidemiology of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Theory and Simulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-23, August.
    11. Justin C Strickland & Derek D Reed & Steven R Hursh & Lindsay P Schwartz & Rachel N S Foster & Brett W Gelino & Robert S LeComte & Fernanda S Oda & Allyson R Salzer & Tadd D Schneider & Lauren Dayton , 2022. "Behavioral economic methods to inform infectious disease response: Prevention, testing, and vaccination in the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-25, January.
    12. Erjavec, Jure & Manfreda, Anton, 2022. "Online shopping adoption during COVID-19 and social isolation: Extending the UTAUT model with herd behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    13. Kumar B, Pradeep, 2020. "Covid-19 Pandemic and the role of behavioral economics," MPRA Paper 107502, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Diego R. Toubes & Noelia Araújo-Vila & José A. Fraiz-Brea, 2021. "Organizational Learning Capacity and Sustainability Challenges in Times of Crisis: A Study on Tourism SMEs in Galicia (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.

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