Attitudes towards the economic costs associated with measures against the spread of COVID-19: Population perceptions from repeated cross-sectional data of the nationally representative COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring in Germany (COSMO).

André Hajek,Hans-Helmut König,Freia De Bock,Philipp Sprengholz,Benedikt Kretzler

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0259451

Abstract

IntroductionOur aim was to examine attitudes of the general population towards reasonableness of these costs, as well as the degree to which these costs are shared across society (solidarity financing) and to determine the factors associated with them.MethodRepeated cross-sectional data from a nationally representative online-survey. More precisely, data from wave 8 (21–22 April 2020) and wave 16 (7–8 July 2020) were used (in wave 8: analytical sample with n = 976, average age was 47.0 years (SD: 15.3 years), ranging from 18 to 74 years, 51.8% female; in wave 16: analytical sample with n = 978, average age was 46.1 years (SD: 15.9 years), ranging from 18 to 74 years, 50.9% female). After a short introduction emphasizing considerable economic costs associated with the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, individuals were asked to rate the following statements (outcome measures), in each case from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree: “These economic costs are currently reasonable in relation to the objective pursued” (reasonableness of costs), “These economic costs should be borne jointly by all citizens and depending on income” (solidarity financing).ResultsIn wave 8 (wave 16 in parentheses), the average rating for the attitude towards reasonableness of costs was 4.3, SD: 1.8 (wave 16, average: 4.2, SD: 1.8) and the average rating for the attitude towards solidarity financing was 3.7, SD: 1.9 (wave 16, average: 3.3, SD: 2.0). In wave 8, more positive attitudes towards the reasonableness of costs and solidarity financing were associated with being male, higher education, not being in a partnership/being unmarried, higher affect regarding COVID-19 and higher presumed severity with respect to COVID-19. Furthermore, more positive attitudes towards the reasonableness of costs were associated with having a migration background. More positive attitudes towards solidarity financing was associated with higher age groups. Mainly similar findings were observed in wave 16.DiscussionAgreement with reasonableness of costs of preventative measures as well as solidarity financing was moderately high. Knowledge of these attitudes is important to ensure social cohesion during the fight against COVID-19.

Highlights

Our aim was to examine attitudes of the general population towards reasonableness of these costs, as well as the degree to which these costs are shared across society and to determine the factors associated with them
After a short introduction emphasizing considerable economic costs associated with the measures against the spread of the coronavirus, individuals were asked to rate the following statements, in each case from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree: “These economic costs are currently reasonable in relation to the objective pursued”, “These economic costs should be borne jointly by all citizens and depending on income”
It appears plausible that attitudes towards the reasonableness of costs and solidarity financing were positively associated with higher affect regarding COVID-19 and higher presumed severity of COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

Our aim was to examine attitudes of the general population towards reasonableness of these costs, as well as the degree to which these costs are shared across society (solidarity financing) and to determine the factors associated with them. (near) lock-down measures (further details regarding the term lockdown are presented elsewhere [3]) have to be balanced out with their potential negative effects such as economic costs, as becomes currently visible by changing tones in the debate about potential new school closures in the autumn of 2020 [4]. According to the ifo Institute the German economy will probably shrink by 6.6 percent in 2020 [5]. If these predictions come true, this would be the largest shrinkage in the gross domestic product since the 1950s (except for the global financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009 where the gross domestic product decreased by about 5.8%). Similar projections have been reported in other countries [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion