People and Pandemics: Studying International Coping and Compliance

An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Michigan is leading this project to gather cross-national data about policies and responses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers aim to understand what factors affect the extent to which people are complying with social distancing policies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact that these policies are having on individuals and communities around the world. The project consists of two main parts: 1) conducting online surveys to elicit individual attitudes and behavior in over a dozen countries; and 2) collecting systematic data on government policies to combat COVID-19 across countries and over time.

Housed at the University of Michigan International Institute, this project involves faculty across multiple units at the University of Michigan: Yuen Yuen Ang (political science), Allen Hicken (political science), Pauline Jones (political science), Ann Chih Lin (public policy), Elizabeth King (public health), Laura Rozek (public health), Twila Tardif (psychology).

Funding for this research project comes from the International Institute, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Department of Psychology, Ford School of Public Policy, Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, School of Public Health, Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, and Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia.