![]() ![]() We accomplish these aims by using two econometric techniques: difference-in-difference (DiD) and ordinary least squares (OLS).Īgainst this backdrop, the current study makes several contributions to the literature: ![]() Secondly, we determine which factors matter most (factors significantly influencing happiness) to happiness under these changed circumstances. To this end, our primary aim in this study is to use the Gross National Happiness Index (GNH), a real-time measure of well-being, derived from Big Data, to investigate if lockdown regulations in itself caused a decrease in happiness. One of the dimensions of well-being, material (income) hinges on a bleak economic outlook. We define well-being as those aspects of life that society collectively agrees are important for a person's quality of life, happiness and welfare. In this study, we treat an extreme country as a country with very strict lockdown regulations, with likely high infection rates, amidst low levels of well-being. In an extreme country case, this might be amplified. Unfortunately, restricting people's mobility and depriving them of what matters most might intensify the negative effect on happiness levels. In an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19 and minimise the loss of life, governments around the world have imposed their version of mandatory self-isolation through implementing lockdown regulations. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Ĭompeting interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. ![]() Dr Stephanie Rossouw: Auckland University of Technology via the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. Prof T Greyling: University of Johannesburg via the University Research Fund. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.ĭata Availability: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.įunding: The following authors received salaries from their institutions, whom were also the funders of the research. Received: JAccepted: DecemPublished: January 22, 2021Ĭopyright: © 2021 Greyling et al. PLoS ONE 16(1):Įditor: Francesco Di Gennaro, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, ITALY However, as the pandemic progressed, they became more concerned, and this relationship changed and became negative, with peoples' happiness decreasing as the number of new deaths increased.Ĭitation: Greyling T, Rossouw S, Adhikari T (2021) The good, the bad and the ugly of lockdowns during Covid-19. Seemingly people were, at the onset of Covid-19 positive and optimistic about the low fatality rates and the high recovery rates. Interestingly, Covid-19, proxied by new deaths per day, had an inverted U-shape relationship with happiness. On the other hand, other lockdown regulations such as a ban on alcohol sales, a fear of becoming unemployed and a greater reliance on social media have negative effects, culminating in a net loss in happiness. In analysing the determinants of happiness after lockdown, we found that stay-at-home orders have positively impacted happiness during this period. The results show that the lockdown had a significant and negative impact on happiness. A difference-in-difference approach is used to make causal inferences on the lockdown effect on happiness, and an OLS estimation investigates the determinants of happiness after lockdown. In this study, we analyse the causal effect of a lockdown and consequently, the determinants of happiness during the aforementioned. In this regard, South Africa is an extreme case suffering from low levels of well-being, but at the same time enforcing very strict lockdown regulations. Amidst the rapid global spread of Covid-19, many governments enforced country-wide lockdowns, with likely severe well-being consequences.
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