Eichengreen, Aksoy & Saka (2020).pdf (1.38 MB)
Revenge of the experts: will COVID-19 renew or diminish public trust in science?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 22:11 authored by Barry Eichengreen, Cevat Giray Aksoy, Orkun SakaIt is sometimes said that an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will be heightened appreciation of the importance of scientific research and expertise. We test this hypothesis by examining how exposure to previous epidemics affected trust in science and scientists. Building on the “impressionable years hypothesis” that attitudes are durably formed during the ages 18 to 25, we focus on individuals exposed to epidemics in their country of residence at this particular stage of the life course. Combining data from a 2018 Wellcome Trust survey of more than 75,000 individuals in 138 countries with data on global epidemics since 1970, we show that such exposure has no impact on views of science as an endeavor but that it significantly reduces trust in scientists and in the benefits of their work. We also illustrate that the decline in trust is driven by the individuals with little previous training in science subjects. Finally, our evidence suggests that epidemic-induced distrust translates into lower compliance with health-related policies in the form of negative views towards vaccines and lower rates of child vaccination.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of Public EconomicsISSN
0047-2727Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
193Page range
104343 1 -30Department affiliated with
- Accounting and Finance Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Business and Finance Research Group Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-11-17First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-11-22First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-11-16Usage metrics
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