The COVID-19 Pandemic and Changes in People's Social and Economic Behavior

Abstract

The Corona virus outbreak (COVID-19) that has occurred in Indonesia since the beginning of March 2020 has forced most people to limit their activities. From all lines of micro, small, to cooperatives, the pandemic very affected them. In Bontang City (East Kalimantan – Indonesia), the government is trying to make various efforts to reduce the impact of the corona virus by asking all parties to do social distancing. Work From Home (WFH) and decide to cancel teaching and learning activities. This policy will certainly impact changes in social and economic behavior of the community, especially in Bontang City. This research uses a social experimental approach to find out how much impact the COVID-19 has on changes in social and economic behavior in Bontang. It supported objectivity through a survey covering 500 units of respondents. The results of the study show that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted changes in people’s social behavior, including: 1) respondents understand and are getting used to the new normal conditions in their activities although there is still hope for conditions to return to normal soon; 2) respondents have no difficulty in implementing the Health Protocol even though it is difficult to implement it in their daily activities; 3) respondents are tiring of the pandemic; 4) Most respondents agree and will participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program. Meanwhile, changes in economic behavior conclude that out of 500 respondents, there are 480 respondents (96%) who are still working and 7 respondents (1.4%) are working but temporarily laid off, were 55 respondents (31%) with increased expenditure on prepared food/beverages during the pandemic, 85 respondents (17%) decreased and 260 respondents remained (51.8%).