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    Rights statement: The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4

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The paradox of productivity during quarantine: an agent-based simulation

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The paradox of productivity during quarantine: an agent-based simulation. / Hardy, Peter; Soriano Marcolino, Leandro; F. Fontanari, José.
In: European Physical Journal B, Vol. 94, 40, 29.01.2021.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Hardy P, Soriano Marcolino L, F. Fontanari J. The paradox of productivity during quarantine: an agent-based simulation. European Physical Journal B. 2021 Jan 29;94:40. doi: 10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4

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Hardy, Peter ; Soriano Marcolino, Leandro ; F. Fontanari, José. / The paradox of productivity during quarantine : an agent-based simulation. In: European Physical Journal B. 2021 ; Vol. 94.

Bibtex

@article{7b5c8ab0190e4ec5965ef4dcbdf05ee2,
title = "The paradox of productivity during quarantine: an agent-based simulation",
abstract = "Economies across the globe were brought to their knees due to lockdowns and social restriction measures to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, despite the quick switch to remote working. This downfall may be partially explained by the “water cooler effect”, which holds that higher levels of social interaction lead to higher productivity due to a boost in people{\textquoteright}s mood. Somewhat paradoxically, however, there are reports of increased productivity in the remote working scenario. Here we address quantitatively this issue using a variety of experimental findings of social psychology that address the interplay between mood, social interaction and productivity to set forth an agent-based model for a workplace composed of extrovert and introvert agent stereotypes that differ solely on their propensities to initiate a social interaction. We find that the effects of curtailing social interactions depend on the proportion of the stereotypes in the working group: while the social restriction measures always have a negative impact on the productivity of groups composed predominantly of introverts, they may actually improve the productivity of groups composed predominantly of extroverts. Our results offer a proof of concept that the paradox of productivity during quarantine can be explained by taking into account the distinct effects of the social distancing measures on extroverts and introverts.",
author = "Peter Hardy and {Soriano Marcolino}, Leandro and {F. Fontanari}, Jos{\'e}",
note = "The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4",
year = "2021",
month = jan,
day = "29",
doi = "10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4",
language = "English",
volume = "94",
journal = "European Physical Journal B",
issn = "1434-6028",
publisher = "Springer New York LLC",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The paradox of productivity during quarantine

T2 - an agent-based simulation

AU - Hardy, Peter

AU - Soriano Marcolino, Leandro

AU - F. Fontanari, José

N1 - The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4

PY - 2021/1/29

Y1 - 2021/1/29

N2 - Economies across the globe were brought to their knees due to lockdowns and social restriction measures to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, despite the quick switch to remote working. This downfall may be partially explained by the “water cooler effect”, which holds that higher levels of social interaction lead to higher productivity due to a boost in people’s mood. Somewhat paradoxically, however, there are reports of increased productivity in the remote working scenario. Here we address quantitatively this issue using a variety of experimental findings of social psychology that address the interplay between mood, social interaction and productivity to set forth an agent-based model for a workplace composed of extrovert and introvert agent stereotypes that differ solely on their propensities to initiate a social interaction. We find that the effects of curtailing social interactions depend on the proportion of the stereotypes in the working group: while the social restriction measures always have a negative impact on the productivity of groups composed predominantly of introverts, they may actually improve the productivity of groups composed predominantly of extroverts. Our results offer a proof of concept that the paradox of productivity during quarantine can be explained by taking into account the distinct effects of the social distancing measures on extroverts and introverts.

AB - Economies across the globe were brought to their knees due to lockdowns and social restriction measures to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, despite the quick switch to remote working. This downfall may be partially explained by the “water cooler effect”, which holds that higher levels of social interaction lead to higher productivity due to a boost in people’s mood. Somewhat paradoxically, however, there are reports of increased productivity in the remote working scenario. Here we address quantitatively this issue using a variety of experimental findings of social psychology that address the interplay between mood, social interaction and productivity to set forth an agent-based model for a workplace composed of extrovert and introvert agent stereotypes that differ solely on their propensities to initiate a social interaction. We find that the effects of curtailing social interactions depend on the proportion of the stereotypes in the working group: while the social restriction measures always have a negative impact on the productivity of groups composed predominantly of introverts, they may actually improve the productivity of groups composed predominantly of extroverts. Our results offer a proof of concept that the paradox of productivity during quarantine can be explained by taking into account the distinct effects of the social distancing measures on extroverts and introverts.

U2 - 10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4

DO - 10.1140/epjb/s10051-020-00016-4

M3 - Journal article

VL - 94

JO - European Physical Journal B

JF - European Physical Journal B

SN - 1434-6028

M1 - 40

ER -