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Do national cultures matter in the containment of COVID-19?

Cong Cao (University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China)
Ning Li (Eastern Washington University, Spokane, Washington, USA)
Li Liu (Tsinghua University, Beijing, China)

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

ISSN: 0144-333X

Article publication date: 1 October 2020

Issue publication date: 2 December 2020

2053

Abstract

Purpose

This paper empirically investigates how cultural variations in individualism and tightness affected the containment of COVID-19 using data from 54 nations during a 30-day period of government intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilized the hierarchical regression approach to check the effects of three cultural variables – the individualism measure, taken from Hofstede’s six-dimension national culture index, and the measure of cultural tightness, based on the three tightness–looseness indexes calculated by Irem Uz (2015) and their interaction – on the changes in the prevalence rate (ΔPR) and crude mortality rate (ΔCMR) and case fatality rate (CFR) while controlling for the stringency of government responses to COVID-19, median age and population density.

Findings

Significant relationships were found between cultural variables and national performance in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, measured by ΔPR, ΔCMR and CFR. After controlling for the stringency of government responses, median age and population density, the authors found that cultural tightness and individualism as well as their interactions remain to be pivotal. Loose and individualistic cultures led to faster increases in PR and CMR and higher CFR. A four-quadrant conceptual framework is developed to categorize and discuss the national differences.

Originality/value

The paper integrated two constructs – cultural tightness–looseness and individualism–collectivism – to form a theoretical lens to guide the authors’ analyses while using the real-time COVID-19 data as a natural experiment for theorizing and testing. This study’s findings have significant policy implications in government responses, strategic planning, cultural adaptability and policy implementations for the world’s continuous battle against the pandemic.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Partial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71774091 for CC and 71810107004 for LL) and from Tsinghua Research Program (2017THZWLJ02 for LL) is acknowledged. The authors also thank Dr. Xia Li for his helpful suggestions and valuable comments on this research and acknowledge the constructive comments and suggestions made by two anonymous reviewers.Authors contributed equally to this work.

Citation

Cao, C., Li, N. and Liu, L. (2020), "Do national cultures matter in the containment of COVID-19?", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 40 No. 9/10, pp. 939-961. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0334

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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