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Willingness to pay for policies to reduce health risks from COVID-19: Evidence from U.S. professional sports.
Humphreys, Brad R; Wagner, Gary A; Whitehead, John C; Wicker, Pamela.
  • Humphreys BR; Department of Economics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
  • Wagner GA; Department of Economics and Finance, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA.
  • Whitehead JC; Department of Economics, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA.
  • Wicker P; Department of Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Health Econ ; 32(1): 218-231, 2023 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2074991
ABSTRACT
Airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus increased the need for health policies to reduce transmission in congregate settings associated with minimal risk before the pandemic. While a large literature estimates tradeoffs between policies designed to reduce negative health outcomes, no empirical research addresses consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for health policies designed to reduce airborne virus transmission. Using survey data from 1381 fans of professional sports, we estimate consumers' WTP for reduced likelihood of coronavirus transmission through mask and social distancing policies using a stated preference approach. The results indicate increased attendance likelihood if the venue requires masks and limits attendance, with significant heterogeneity in WTP across risk scenarios and sports. We characterize consumers as casual fans who prefer a mask requirement but are indifferent to capacity constraints, strong fans who are anti-maskers and prefer capacity constraints, and a second group of casual fans with positive WTP under both mask and limited capacity requirements. For example, casual fans' WTP for masking, $38 per National Basketball Association (NBA) game attended, is more than double their WTP for capacity constraints only. Strong fans' WTP for attending capacity constrained NBA games was $490, more than 400% higher than the pre-pandemic average WTP of $105.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Health Econ Journal subject: Health Services Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Hec.4618

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Health Econ Journal subject: Health Services Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Hec.4618