A Rational-Choice Model of Covid-19 Transmission with Endogenous Quarantining and Two-sided Prevention-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

A Rational-Choice Model of Covid-19 Transmission with Endogenous Quarantining and Two-sided Prevention

Published:2020-09-01 Issue: Volume: Page:
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Author:

Bhattacharya Joydeep^ORCID,Chakraborty Shankha,Yu Xiumei

Abstract

AbstractThis paper offers a parsimonious, rational-choice model to study the effect of pre-existing inequalities on the transmission of COVID-19. Agents decide whether to “go out” (or self-quarantine) and, if so, whether to wear protection such as masks. Three elements distinguish the model from existing work. First, non-symptomatic agents do not know if they are infected. Second, some of these agents unknowingly transmit infections. Third, we permit two-sided prevention via the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions: the probability of a person catching the virus from another depends on protection choices made by each. We find that a mean-preserving increase in pre-existing income inequality unambiguously increases the equilibrium proportion of unprotected, socializing agents and may increase or decrease the proportion who self-quarantine. Strikingly, while higher pre-COVID inequality may or may not raise the overall risk of infection, it increases the risk of disease in social interactions.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

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