Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/217494 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 556
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
Amidst the rapid global spread of Covid-19, many governments enforced country-wide lockdowns, with likely severe well-being consequences. The actions by governments triggered a debate on whether the well-being and economic costs of a lockdown surpass the benefits perceived from a lower infection rate. In this regard, South Africa is an extreme case: enforcing very stringent lockdown regulations, while amid an economic crisis. We analyse the impact of both Covid-19 and the lockdown on happiness. We use the Gross National Happiness Index to compare the determinants of happiness before and after the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Further, we estimate the likelihood of happiness levels in 2020, reaching the average levels in 2019 using two models; one predicting the likelihood after the lockdown was enforced and the other if no lockdown regulations were in place. The results shed light on happiness outcomes in a scenario of lockdown versus no lockdown.
Subjects: 
Happiness
Covid-19
Big data
Regulations
Probabilities
South Africa
JEL: 
C55
I12
I31
J18
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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