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Malawi at the crossroads: Does the fear of contracting COVID-19 affect the propensity to vote?

Article scientifique 2020 Anglais

Résumé

Abstract The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has disrupted ways of life, including political processes. In this paper, we assess the effect of own perceived risk of catching COVID-19 on willingness to vote. The paper draws from a nationally representative survey of adult Malawians (n=1155). Our main method used instrumental variables to account for potential endogeneity. Findings show that 63% of Malawians thought that they are likely to catch COVID-19. Notwithstanding the COVID19 risk, 86% were willing to vote. The regression analysis suggests that an individual’s perceived risk of catching COVID-19 is associated with lower likelihood of voting (β=-0.096; p<0.05). The results suggest that voter turnout in Malawi’s fresh presidential election may have been highly affected by the perceived risk of catching COVID-19. The policy implication is that instituting and enforcing primary preventive measures may help reduce the perceived risk of catching COVID19 and mitigate voter apathy.

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Chirwa, G., Dulani, B., Sithole, L., Chunga, J., Alfonso, W., Tengatenga, J. (2020). Malawi at the crossroads: Does the fear of contracting COVID-19 affect the propensity to vote?. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-53705/v1

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Auteur(s)

Gowokani Chijere Chirwa Boniface Dulani Lonjezo Sithole Joseph J. Chunga Witness Alfonso John Tengatenga

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