TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Briscese, Guglielmo
AU  - Lacetera, Nicola
AU  - Macis, Mario
AU  - Tonin, Mirco
        TI  - Compliance with COVID-19 Social-Distancing Measures in Italy: The Role of Expectations and Duration
        PY  - 2020/Mar/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 13092
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp13092
        AB  - 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.
        KW  - social distancing
KW  - compliance
KW  - expectations
KW  - COVID-19
KW  - behavioural change
        ER  -