How do you investigate the level of population tolerance for lifestyle restrictions if it slowed the spread of covid-19 and the number of deaths?
Kathleen Manipis
Kathleen Manipis, a PhD student at the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE), used discrete choice experiments to evaluate what people would tolerate.
“I wanted them to trade off restriction levels, with health outcomes – number of deaths and infections, with the economic consequences – people losing their jobs, and how much extra tax somebody would need to pay,” Kathleen said.
To better understand the sentiment around the restriction impact, a survey of consumers, known as a discrete choice experiment, were conducted to assess quantitatively the strength of what the public prefers in a series of ‘would you rather’ style questions.
This is about discovering what’s important to people.
Kathleen Manipis
“Policies affect people, so if you have these hard restrictions that nobody wants, and they can see health and economic consequences, then this could inform the level of restrictions.”
Her future research will look at the ways in which the information gained from discrete choice experiments can best affect policy.
Find out more
For more information about our research impact in the Faculty of Health or for collaboration opportunities, contact:
Professor Angela Dawson
Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health
E: Angela.Dawson@uts.edu.au
T: +61 (02) 9514 4892
PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia