Lives or Livelihoods? Perceived Trade-offs and Policy Views

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  • Sonja Settele
  • Cortnie Anne Shupe
We study the role of perceived trade-offs between human lives and economic benefits in shaping policy views. In an online experiment with a representative sample from the US conducted during the early Covid-19 pandemic, we provide randomized information on the medium-run costs of restricting economic activity to mitigate infections. A one standard deviation lower perceived economic cost of lockdowns increases support by about twice as much as having a Covid at-risk condition, and by half as much as being a Democrat. Varying projected health benefits has a similar effect. Personal exposure to health risks reduces people's responsiveness to cost-benefit considerations.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftThe Economic Journal
Vol/bind132
Udgave nummer643
Sider (fra-til)1150-1178
Antal sider29
ISSN0013-0133
DOI
StatusUdgivet - apr. 2022

ID: 287692685