COUNTY-LEVEL DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING (OR LACK THEREOF) DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

We study the relationship between a number of socioeconomic, demographic, and political variables and county-level measures of social mobility in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. We find that higher income, more educated populations, older populations, a higher share of Asian residents, a higher share of residents in a formal religious institution, and the early presence of the virus all significantly correlate with reduced mobility. A higher share of the resident population that is Black or Hispanic or a greater vote share for Donald Trump in the 2016 election significantly predict smaller mobility declines. (JEL R20, R23, R28).