We show that compensation measures aimed at improving the fairness of a crisis policy response can unintendedly nudge compliance with emergency rules. We combine information on the distribution of relief funds across Italian municipalities during the novel coronavirus pandemic with data tracking citizens’ movements through mobile devices and navigation systems. To assess the impact of transfers on compliance, we exploit a sharp kink schedule in the allocation of funds. The empirical analysis provides evidence that compliance increased with transfers, suggesting that the observance of emergency rules also depends on the fairness of the pandemic policy response.

Can relief measures nudge compliance in a public health crisis? Evidence from a kinked fiscal policy rule / Deiana, Claudio; Geraci, Andrea; Mazzarella, Gianluca; Sabatini, Fabio. - In: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION. - ISSN 0167-2681. - 202(2022), pp. 407-428. [10.1016/j.jebo.2022.08.020]

Can relief measures nudge compliance in a public health crisis? Evidence from a kinked fiscal policy rule

Fabio Sabatini
2022

Abstract

We show that compensation measures aimed at improving the fairness of a crisis policy response can unintendedly nudge compliance with emergency rules. We combine information on the distribution of relief funds across Italian municipalities during the novel coronavirus pandemic with data tracking citizens’ movements through mobile devices and navigation systems. To assess the impact of transfers on compliance, we exploit a sharp kink schedule in the allocation of funds. The empirical analysis provides evidence that compliance increased with transfers, suggesting that the observance of emergency rules also depends on the fairness of the pandemic policy response.
2022
compliance; civic capital; COVID-19 policy response; regression kink design
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Can relief measures nudge compliance in a public health crisis? Evidence from a kinked fiscal policy rule / Deiana, Claudio; Geraci, Andrea; Mazzarella, Gianluca; Sabatini, Fabio. - In: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION. - ISSN 0167-2681. - 202(2022), pp. 407-428. [10.1016/j.jebo.2022.08.020]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1655123
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