Minorities' Support for Pro-Social Nudges Increases for COVID-19 Prevention Nudges

Abstract

To complement their efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, governments can employ nudges - non-coercive changes in choice architecture that affect behavior without altering incentives. However, some social minority groups, that may be more vulnerable to the pandemic, may be less supportive of nudges. We asked participants from two social minorities and the majority group in Israel for their attitudes towards different nudges, which were either related to COVID-19 prevention or not, and were either pro-social or pro-self. Minorities' support for COVID-19 preventive nudges was higher than the majority's. Also, minorities supported pro-social nudges more, if these pertained to COVID-19 prevention. In contrast, pro-social nudges that were unrelated to COVID-19 were less supported by minorities. Policymakers may use these insights to design disease prevention nudges.

Keywords: Behavioral Policy, COVID-19, Public Health, Nudge, Choice Architecture