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Title: Static and Dynamic Inefficiencies in an Optimizing Model of Epidemics

Author(s): Pietro Garibaldi, Espen R Moen and Christopher Pissarides

Publication Date: November 2020

Keyword(s): COVID-19, herd immunity, matching model, rat race, SIR models and Social distancing

Programme Area(s): Labour Economics and Public Economics

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.

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Bibliographic Reference

Garibaldi, P, Moen, E and Pissarides, C. 2020. 'Static and Dynamic Inefficiencies in an Optimizing Model of Epidemics'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=15439