Journal of Human Resources · 2023 · Dhaval Dave、Andrew Friedson、Kyutaro Matsuzawa、Joseph J. Sabia、Samuel Safford
Abstract
Abstract This study examines the impacts of summer 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests on risk avoidance behaviors. Using daily anonymized smartphone data on social mobility and an event-study approach, we find that net stay-at-home behavior increased following protest onset. This result is consistent with avoidance behaviors in response to perceived risk of COVID-19 infection and protest-related violence. Furthermore, we find that BLM protests reduced local activities that were potentially riskier for infection than outdoor protests: restaurant and bar-going and retail shopping. We conclude that risk avoidance behaviors help to explain why BLM protests did not lead to local COVID-19 spread.