Determinants of Social Distancing Policies in Response to COVID-19: The Filtering Effect of Institutional Logics

This study explores the factors influencing local governments’ social distancing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. We focus on understanding how decisions about social distancing levels are shaped by institutional environments, and posit that multiple institutional logics coexist within regions and influence policy decisions. Strong modernization logic prioritizes community development and convenience, reducing the effect of confirmed cases on social distancing measures. Democratic logic seeks decentralization and may generate resistance to social distancing as a form of social control. Economic logic prioritizes economic growth, resulting in resistance to distancing policies that impede economic activity. Analyzing data from July 2020 to April 2021, this study shows that the relationship between COVID-19 cases and social distancing levels weakens as diverse institutional logics gain prominence. In essence, we highlight how professional logic, which advocates for stricter distancing measures, is filtered through regional institutional dynamics, ultimately shaping local government policy choices.