Compliance with COVID-19 Guidelines: Trust, Representation, and Expertise

• In Event: Public Perceptions of Bureaucratic Programs and Agencies

Abstract

The lack of trust in American government has reached new heights and created severe challenges for public administrators trying to gain the cooperation of the public in solving problems like the COVID epidemic. Two theories in public administration and political science provide some guidance. The first suggests that to increase compliance, it is important to ensure descriptive representation in government. The second points to the key role of non-partisan experts in providing information to the public for increasing compliance. Using a survey experiment, we test the hypothesis that respondents with low levels of trust in government generally will be more likely to follow guidance from local government about COVID-19 when that information comes from an elected official who shares the respondents’ race, particularly among minority respondents. We focus on race because of existing concerns about trust in vaccines and medical information among Black Americans. We also test the hypothesis that respondents will be more likely to comply with regulations when messages from local officials highlight the role that experts played in creating the guidelines. To test these hypotheses, we first experimentally-induce levels of trust in government generally and then we employ a conjoint experiment varying information regarding a public health order. We manipulate the gender and race of the elected official, details about the policy, as well as details about the political landscape. After reading the information, the respondent will be asked about their willingness to comply with the public health order. We will also ask about how appropriate respondents think it is for the elected official to implement these kinds of policies. Our findings will have important implications for the literature on representative government, the politics-administration dichotomy, and how to better govern during times of extremely low levels of trust.

Authors

• Katelyn E. Stauffer, University of South Carolina

• Susan Marie Miller, Arizona State University

• Lael R. Keiser, University of Missouri