%0 Report
        %A Briscese, Guglielmo
%A Lacetera, Nicola
%A Macis, Mario
%A Tonin, Mirco
        %T Compliance with COVID-19 Social-Distancing Measures in Italy: The Role of Expectations and Duration
        %D 2020
        %8 2020 Mar
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 13092
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp13092
        %X We study how intentions to comply with the self-isolation restrictions enacted in Italy in response to the COVID-19 crisis respond to the length of their possible extension. Based on a survey of a representative sample of Italian residents (N=894), we find that respondents who are positively surprised by a given hypothetical extension (i.e. the extension is shorter than what they expected) are more willing to increase their self-isolation. In contrast, negative surprises (extensions longer than expected) relate with a lower willingness to comply. In a context where individual compliance has collective benefits, but full enforcement is costly and controversial, communication and persuasion have a fundamental role. Our findings provide insights to public authorities on how to announce lockdown measures and manage people's expectations.
        %K social distancing
%K compliance
%K expectations
%K COVID-19
%K behavioural change