Inter-temporal and Social Preferences Predict Compliance in a Social Dilemma: An Application in the Context of COVID-19

Abstract

This paper examines the role of future and social orientation in explaining cooperation in a social dilemma. In the Netherlands, the COVID-19 pandemic raised an acute social dilemma where citizens could decide whether to comply with the precautionary measures recommended by the government. Through an online survey (N=1019), consideration of future consequences (CFC), consideration of others (COO) and compliance with the precautionary measures were measured. Results show that both an increase in COO and CFC are associated with increased compliance. Moreover, COO and CFC interact: the marginal effects of COO and CFC are lower for higher values of CFC and COO, respectively. Gender, age, perceived risk for others, perceived compliance by others and opinion about government response to the pandemic also have a significant association with compliance. These findings emphasize the importance of both social and future orientation in the prediction of cooperation in social dilemmas.