Arbeitspapier
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of mandatory face mask usage triggered a heated debate. A major point of debate is whether community use of masks creates a false sense of security that would diminish physical distancing, counteracting any potential direct benefit from masking. We conducted a randomized field experiment in Berlin, Germany, to investigate how masks affect distancing and whether the mask effect interacts with the introduction of an indoor mask mandate. Joining waiting lines in front of stores, we measured distances kept from the experimenter in two treatment conditions { the experimenter wore a mask in one and no face covering in the other { in two time spans { before and after mask use becoming mandatory in stores. We find no evidence that mandatory masking has a negative effect on distance kept toward a masked person. To the contrary, masks significantly increase distancing and the effect does not differ between the two periods. However, we show that after the mandate, distances are shorter in locations where more non-essential stores, which were closed before the mandate, had reopened. We argue that the relaxations in general restrictions that coincided with the mask mandate led individuals to reduce other precautions, like keeping a safe distance.
- Language
-
Englisch
- Bibliographic citation
-
Series: DIW Discussion Papers ; No. 1971
- Classification
-
Wirtschaft
Health Behavior
Field Experiments
- Subject
-
COVID-19
Face Masks
Social Distancing
Risk Compensation
Field Experiment
Health Policy
- Event
-
Geistige Schöpfung
- (who)
-
Seres, Gyula
Balleyer, Anna
Cerutti, Nicola
Friedrichsen, Jana
Süer, Müge
- Event
-
Veröffentlichung
- (who)
-
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
- (where)
-
Berlin
- (when)
-
2021
- Handle
- Last update
-
10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET
Data provider
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. If you have any questions about the object, please contact the data provider.
Object type
- Arbeitspapier
Associated
- Seres, Gyula
- Balleyer, Anna
- Cerutti, Nicola
- Friedrichsen, Jana
- Süer, Müge
- Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
Time of origin
- 2021
Other Objects (12)
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: Evidence from public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: Evidence from public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking : No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
Street masking: a network-based geographic mask for easily protecting geoprivacy
Introduction of mandatory masking in health care and community: experience from Jena, Germany
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Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: Evidence from public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: Evidence from public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking : No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
Street masking: a network-based geographic mask for easily protecting geoprivacy
Introduction of mandatory masking in health care and community: experience from Jena, Germany
Introduction of mandatory masking in health care and community : experience from Jena, Germany
Limited effect of reducing pulmonary tuberculosis incidence amid mandatory facial masking for COVID-19
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: Evidence from public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: Evidence from public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking: No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
Face mask use and physical distancing before and after mandatory masking : No evidence on risk compensation in public waiting lines
Street masking: a network-based geographic mask for easily protecting geoprivacy
Introduction of mandatory masking in health care and community: experience from Jena, Germany
Introduction of mandatory masking in health care and community : experience from Jena, Germany
Limited effect of reducing pulmonary tuberculosis incidence amid mandatory facial masking for COVID-19
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Face masks increase compliance with physical distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic