Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Prosociality Predicts Individual Behavior and Collective Outcomes in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author-Name: Ximeng Fang 
Author-Email: x.fang@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Timo Freyer
Author-Email: t.freyer@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Chui Yee Ho
Author-Email: chuiyee.ho@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Zihua Chen
Author-Email:
Author-Name: Lorenz Goette
Author-Email:


Classification-JEL: D64, I12, I18, H41
Keywords: COVID-19, collective action, prosociality, economic preferences, online survey

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic induces a typical social dilemma situation, as engaging in
preventive behaviors such as social distancing is costly for individuals, but generates
benefits that accrue to society at large. The extent to which individuals internalize
the social impact of their actions may depend on their (pro-)social preferences.
We leverage a nationally representative survey in Germany (n = 5,843), conducted
during the second coronavirus wave, to investigate the role of prosociality in reducing
the spread of COVID-19. At the individual level, higher prosociality is strongly
positively related to compliance with recommended public health behaviors. At the
regional (NUTS-2) level, higher average prosociality is associated with significantly
lower incidence and growth rates of COVID-19 infections. This association is robust
to controlling for a host of regional socio-economic factors, and mediated by stronger
average compliance with public health measures. Our correlational results thus confirm
the notion that voluntary behavioral change due to prosocial motivations can
play an important role in the pandemic.

Note: 
Length: 31
Creation-Date: 2021-09
Revision-Date: 
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp319
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2021_319