Measuring Sensitivity to Social Distancing Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic

22 Pages Posted: 2 Mar 2022

See all articles by Constantine E. Kontokosta

Constantine E. Kontokosta

New York University - Center for Urban Science and Progress; New York University (NYU) - Marron Institute of Urban Management

Boyeong Hong

New York University (NYU) - Marron Institute of Urban Management

Bartosz Bonczak

New York University (NYU)

Date Written: March 1, 2022

Abstract

Social distancing remains one of the most effective nonpharmaceutical behavioral interventions to limit the spread of COVID-19, but monitoring and enforcing compliance creates nontrivial challenges. Several jurisdictions have turned to ‘311’ resident complaint platforms to engage the public in reporting social distancing non-compliance, but differences in sensitivity to social distancing behaviors can lead to a mis-allocation of resources and increased health risks. Using hourly visit data to designated establishments and more than 71,000 social distancing complaints in New York City during the first wave of the pandemic, we develop a method, derived from the Weber-Fechner law, to quantify neighborhood sensitivity and assess how tolerance to social distancing infractions and complaint reporting behaviors vary with neighborhood characteristics. We find that sensitivity to non-compliance is lower in minority and low-income neighborhoods, as well as in lower density and Republican-leaning areas, resulting in fewer reported complaints than expected given measured levels of overcrowding.

Keywords: Behavior Change, Social Distancing, Bias, COVID-19

Suggested Citation

Kontokosta, Constantine E. and Hong, Boyeong and Bonczak, Bartosz, Measuring Sensitivity to Social Distancing Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 1, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4047033 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4047033

Constantine E. Kontokosta (Contact Author)

New York University - Center for Urban Science and Progress ( email )

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New York University (NYU) - Marron Institute of Urban Management ( email )

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Boyeong Hong

New York University (NYU) - Marron Institute of Urban Management ( email )

60 Fifth Ave
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New York, NY 10011
United States

Bartosz Bonczak

New York University (NYU) ( email )

Bobst Library, E-resource Acquisitions
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New York, NY 10003-711
United States

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