Risk Perceptions and Private Protective Behaviors: Evidence from COVID-19 Pandemic
基于COVID-19疫情期间的调查数据，研究人们主观风险认知与私人防护行为的关系，发现人们高估经济活动风险但相对风险判断正确，且风险认知独立于政府政策影响行为变化。
Abstract We analyze data from a survey we administered during the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate the relationship between people’s subjective beliefs about risks and their private protective behaviors. On average, people substantially overestimate the absolute level of risk associated with economic activity, but have directionally correct signals about their relative risk based on their demographic characteristics. Subjective risk beliefs are predictive of changes in economic activities independent of government policies. Government mandates restricting economic behavior, in turn, attenuate the relationship between subjective risk beliefs and protective behaviors.