What Affects Perceived Health Risk Attitude During the Pandemic: Evidence From Migration and Dining Behavior in China

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Economics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic induced significant behavioral shifts impacting work, leisure, and economic activities.
• Changes in social behaviors, like dining out, have substantial economic and employment implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how individuals in China responded to pandemic-related health risks by examining dining-out decisions.
• To assess dining-out behavior as a predictor of economic recovery and individual risk perception.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of dining-out behavior as a proxy for health risk attitude during the pandemic.
• Comparison of dining-out behavior with traditional financial risk measures.
• Examination of the influence of domestic and international migration patterns on dining-out decisions.

Main Results:

• Dining out behavior was a more significant predictor of pandemic health risk attitude and future consumption than financial risk measures.
• Positive association between domestic in-migration and dining out, indicating confidence in internal safety.
• Negative association between international migration/port city status and dining out, reflecting heightened virus risk perception.

Conclusions:

• Dining out behavior serves as a valuable indicator of public response to health risks and economic recovery.
• Government policies, particularly border controls, were crucial for economic resilience.
• Understanding city and household characteristics is key to analyzing pandemic-related behavioral changes.