Download This PaperCOVID-19 with Stigma: New Evidence from Mobility Data and “Go to Travel” Campaign
28 Pages Posted: 23 Jun 2022
Abstract
This study modifies and extends the stigma model, which analyzes the mobility behavior under the context of COVID-19 by incorporating the potential effect of the Go to travel campaign. The basic stigma model proposes that under the declaration of emergency, people refrain from going out due to a social stigma, which is a sort of force that encourages people to stay at home. Nevertheless, in our extended model, we show evidence by using data of the Go to travel campaign, which suggests that the stigma effects are policy independent and, even there is evidence of the presence of stigma on the emergency stage, its effects remain but fades on the following stage. Additionally, the evidence suggests that Go to travel campaign has a significant effect that increases the mobility behavior of individuals. Therefore, the campaign impulsed by the government counteracts or reduces the stigma effect generated by the emergency statement. To do this analysis, we use a panel data model with prefectural information about mobility, emergency statement, Go to travel campaign, COVID-19 rates of infections, and a weekend dummy control variable.
Keywords: COVID-19, Stigma, Self-restraint behavior, Go to Travel
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation