Does culture matter during a pandemic? An approach to the Spanish crisis of the COVID-19

In this paper we argue that culture, as a set of beliefs, values, and norms prevailing in a society, exerts a relevant role in various phenomena related to a pandemic. We analyse several cultural indicators that may affect the definition and follow-up of the norms of hygiene, social distance and lockdown. We conclude that the people in Spain has very low levels of trust in others, but high levels of conformity. This opens a research agenda on the way in which these beliefs and values foster different models of public policies to face the health crisis, their social acceptance and effectiveness.