Where the Grass Is Greener: Social Infrastructure and Resilience to COVID-19

Abstract

Recent studies have linked the strength and type of social ties in communities to abating the spread of COVID-19. However, less attention has gone to social infrastructure, the places in neighborhoods that foster social ties and connectedness. This study highlights the role of social infrastructure in COVID-19 outcomes in Fukuoka, a major city in Southwestern Japan, drawing on mapping, modeling, and statistical simulations. I find that city blocks in Fukuoka with more social infrastructure see lower rates of COVID spread, even after controlling for social capital, vulnerability, and health care capacity. However, some kinds of social infrastructure are more beneficial than others; parks, libraries, and public educational sites are linked to lower rates of infection, likely because social distancing is easier here, while public meeting facilities and community centers see rising infections, likely because these places may facilitate transmission through gatherings. City officials should carefully inventory the amount of social infrastructure in their neighborhoods and prioritize expanding outdoor social infrastructure during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, where risk of transmission is lower.