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Socioeconomic reorganization of communication and mobility networks in response to external shocks
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
COVID-19/epidemiology
Humans
Pandemics
Sierra Leone
Social Segregation
Socioeconomic Factors
Humans
Pandemics
Sierra Leone
Social Segregation
Socioeconomic Factors
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/26516
Abstract
Socioeconomic segregation patterns in networks usually evolve gradually, yet they can change abruptly in response to external shocks. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent government policies induced several interruptions in societies, potentially disadvantaging the socioeconomically most vulnerable groups. Using largescale digital behavioral observations as a natural laboratory, here we analyze how lockdown interventions lead to the reorganization of socioeconomic segregation patterns simultaneously in communication and mobility networks in Sierra Leone. We find that while segregation in mobility clearly increased during lockdown, the social communication network reorganized into a less segregated configuration as compared to reference periods. Moreover, due to differences in adaption capacities, the effects of lockdown policies varied across socioeconomic groups, leading to different or even opposite segregation patterns between the lower and higher socioeconomic classes. Such secondary effects of interventions need to be considered for better and more equitable policies.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2023-12-07
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1073/pnas.2305285120