Revenge of the experts: Will COVID-19 renew or diminish public trust in science?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Eichengreen, Barry; Aksoy, Cevat Giray; Saka, Orkun
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK; European Bank of Reconstructon & Development; University of London; King's College London; IZA Institute Labor Economics; University of Sussex; University of London; London School Economics & Political Science
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104343
• 发表日期: 2021
• 关键词: Epidemics; trust; scientists; Impressionable years

摘要

It 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 18-25, 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. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.