Stay-at-home request or order? A study of the regulation of individual behavior during a pandemic crisis in Japan

Aoki, N. (2021).Stay-at-home request or order? A study of the regulation of individual behavior during a pandemic crisis in Japan. International Journal of Public Administration, 44(11-12), 885-895.https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2021.1912087

Abstract

This study examines whether a stay-at-home order with penalties would be an effective measure for regulating public behavior during a pandemic lockdown, through an online experiment conducted in Japan. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, authorities around the world have taken measures to limit civil liberties by means of stay-at-home orders, with penalties for infractions. In contrast, Japan has avoided legal sanctions and sought voluntary cooperation from the public. This self-restraint request might work to deter public activity in Japan, whose society is known for conformity and social order. Nevertheless, the study found that penalties do make a difference in the intention to stay home, especially in places with high infection rates, such as Tokyo. This piece of evidence could contribute to a broader discourse on what sort of measures to take to encourage public cooperation or compliance and how to balance civil liberties and national health.