Equally at risk? Perceived financial differences, risk assessment and containment measures in the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly everybody around the world. The risk of getting infected as well as the risks posed by the economic consequences of the containment measures do not stop at borders or class differences. How do citizens react to such a transboundary crisis? Do such crises have an equalising effect across different social strata of the population? And who are the groups who favour strong government containment measures such as lockdowns? To answer these questions, we conducted an original survey in Germany and the U.S. during the first wave of the virus in June 2020. We find no support for an equalising effect of the crisis, as our conceptual point of departure – the notion of risk society – would presume. Rather, our results indicate that citizens who perceive that they are financially less well-off have greater economic and health-related fears. They also differ in their preferred government response from those who are economically satisfied.