2023 | Felix Hartmann, Ferdinand Geissler, Macartan Humphreys, Heike Klüver and Johannes Giesecke
Trading liberties: How do citizens citizens trade-off liberties and the common good?
The study examines under what conditions citizens are willing to restrict their personal freedoms in favor of the public good during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we analyze how these restrictions affect trust in the government. Using a survey experiment with over 10,000 participants in Germany, we show that the majority of vaccinated citizens support strict measures in extreme situations, especially when they themselves are exempt from the restrictions. In contrast, unvaccinated citizens largely oppose restrictions, regardless of the severity of the pandemic. These measures also influence trust in the government: vaccinated individuals tend to have more trust when strict measures are seen as necessary, while unvaccinated individuals often lose trust in the government when such restrictions are implemented.
Photo: DOERS / Shutterstock / Covid-19 Lockdown Concept
More projects
-
Do extreme weather events spur political action on climate change?
The intensifying frequency of extreme weather events, from catastrophic wildfires to devastating floods, underscores the urgent need for climate policy leadership. … Read More
-
What are the electoral consequences of supporting minority governments?
In times of complicated coalition formation, the idea of a minority government is often introduced into political discourse. … Read More
-
Does breaking coalition agreements have an effect on reelection?
Previous studies show that about two-thirds of the measures promised in coalition agreements are actually implemented. … Read More
-
Which issues can democratic parties effectively use to counter the AfD?
We investigated whether democratic parties can win back voters from right-wing populist parties through targeted campaigns. … Read More
-
Can incentives spur Covid-19 vaccination uptake?
Using a survey experiment with 20,500 participants in Germany, we investigated the effectiveness of three strategies to increase vaccination rates in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: … Read More
-
Does joining a government coalition as a junior partner affect a party’s future electoral success?
Participation in a government coalition as a junior partner can negatively affect a party’s future electoral success. … Read More
-
How does income inequality affect the support for populist parties?
Current research shows that increasing income inequality boosts the electoral success of populist parties in Europe. … Read More
-
Trading liberties: How do citizens citizens trade-off liberties and the common good?
The study examines under what conditions citizens are willing to restrict their personal freedoms in favor of the public good during the COVID-19 pandemic. … Read More
-
Public support for the global distribution of COVID vaccines
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was significant global inequality in the distribution of vaccines. … Read More