Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/227371 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 13844
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In an optimizing model of epidemics several externalities arise when agents shield to avoid infection. Optimizing behaviour delays herd immunity but also reduces overall infections to approximately the minimum consistent with herd immunity. For reasonable parameter values, and with no vaccine, we find that agents delay too much because of a "rat race to shield": they shield too much in the hope that others catch the disease and reach herd immunity. This and other externalities drive large wedges between private and social outcomes. The expectation of a vaccine reverses the effects, and agents shield too little.
Subjects: 
SIR models
matching model
COVID-19
social distancing
rat race
herd immunity
JEL: 
A12
I10
J18
D61
D62
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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