![Thumbnail](/bitstream/handle/20.500.11850/493408/wp_494.pdf.jpg?sequence=5&isAllowed=y)
Open access
Date
2021-06Type
- Working Paper
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics
Abstract
We study the interplay of non-pharmaceutical containment measures, human behavior, and the spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland. First, we collect sub-national data and construct indices that capture the stringency of containment measures at the cantonal level. Second, we use a vector autoregressive (VAR) model to analyze feedback effects between our variables of interest via structural impulse responses. Our results suggest that increases in the stringency of containment measures lead to a significant reduction of weekly infections as well as debit card transactions, which serve as a proxy for behavioral changes in the population. Furthermore, analyzing different policy measures individually shows that business closures, recommendations to work from home, and restrictions on gatherings have been particularly effective in containing the spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland. Finally, our findings indicate a sizeable voluntary reduction in debit card transactions in response to a positive infection shock. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000493408Publication status
publishedJournal / series
KOF Working PapersVolume
Publisher
KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH ZurichSubject
COVID-19; Reproduction Rate; Stringency; SwitzerlandOrganisational unit
02525 - KOF Konjunkturforschungsstelle / KOF Swiss Economic Institute
03716 - Sturm, Jan-Egbert / Sturm, Jan-Egbert
06330 - KOF FB Konjunktur / KOF Macroeconomic forecasting
Related publications and datasets
Is previous version of: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000534170
More
Show all metadata
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics