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Love Thy Neighbor? Perceived Community Abidance and Private Compliance to COVID-19 Norms in India

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  • Upasak Das
  • Prasenjit Sarkhel
  • Sania Ashraf

Abstract

Compliance with measures like social distancing, hand-washing and wearing masks have emerged as the dominant strategy to combat health risk from the COVID-19 pandemic. These behaviors are often argued to be pro-social, where one must incur private cost to benefit or protect others. Using self-reported data across India (n=934) through online survey, we assess if changes in perceived community compliance can predict changes in individual compliance behavior, controlling for the potential confounders. We observe statistically significant and positive relationship between the two, even after accounting for omitted variable bias, plausibly allowing us to view the results from a plausible causal lens. Further, we find subsequent lockdowns such as the ones imposed in India, have a detrimental effect on individual compliance though the gains from higher perceived community compliance seems to offset this loss. We also find that sensitization through community can be particularly effective for people with pre-existing co-morbidities. Our findings underscore the need for multi-level behavioral interventions involving local actors and community institutions to sustain private compliance during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Upasak Das & Prasenjit Sarkhel & Sania Ashraf, 2020. "Love Thy Neighbor? Perceived Community Abidance and Private Compliance to COVID-19 Norms in India," Papers 2010.12350, arXiv.org.
  • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2010.12350
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joseph G. Altonji & Todd E. Elder & Christopher R. Taber, 2005. "Selection on Observed and Unobserved Variables: Assessing the Effectiveness of Catholic Schools," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 113(1), pages 151-184, February.
    2. Paul Collier & Anthony J. Venables, 2014. "Closing coal: economic and moral incentives," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 30(3), pages 492-512.
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    Cited by:

    1. Upasak Das & Udayan Rathore & Prasenjit Sarkhel, 2020. "Social Diversity and Spread of Pandemic: Evidence from India," Papers 2011.05839, arXiv.org, revised May 2023.

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