The Effects of Uncertainties Brought by the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social, Economic and Political Preferences and Behavior Patterns: The Role of Risk Perception

Within the scope of the project, the effects of the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 epidemic regarding health, economy and social life on individuals': a) risk perception and 'moral circle' structure, b) possible changes in economic and social behaviors and political preferences, and c) on these changes It is aimed to present suggestions to policy makers by revealing the factors that play a role. The most important findings obtained as a result of the research can be summarized as follows: • Individuals who cannot sufficiently rely on the information given by the institutions see themselves in a more risky position in terms of both economic and health-related conditions. • There is no clear relationship between individuals' risk perceptions and their moral circle. • While economic risk perception plays a negative role on altruism, health risk perception has a positive effect. • There is a positive relationship between the reliability of the information given by the authorized official institutions and the trust in the official institutions and the measures taken regarding COVID-19. • There is a positive relationship between trust in the information provided by authorized institutions (national and international) regarding COVID-19 and: a) trust in international institutions (NATO, UN, EU) and b) support for international cooperation in which Turkey is involved. • The reliability of the information given by the authorized official institutions has a positive effect on the saving habits of individuals. • Many of the effects mentioned in other findings differ between women and men - especially the perceptions of risk seem to be higher for women. The findings of our research show that the reliability of information transmitted to individuals by authorized institutions (national and international) during the COVID-19 process is a very important factor in terms of having multifaceted effects on individuals' social and economic behaviors and political preferences. Individuals' support for a) measures implemented, b) levels of altruism, c) savings habits, d) support for international cooperation are directly and indirectly (through risk perceptions) affected by their trust in the information provided by institutions. For this reason, the way to ensure that individuals comply with the measures taken, tend to save instead of making expenditures based on anxiety/panic and help those in need, is to ensure that uncertainties and risk perceptions decrease by continuing to provide reliable information to the society on a regular basis.