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Does the Covid-19 Pandemic Make People Unhappy? Evidence from a Six-Country Survey

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  • Nguyen, Viet Cuong

Abstract

Does the COVID-19 pandemic cause people to be unhappy? In this study, we used a recent survey from China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States to explore this question. We find that a one permille point increase in the incidence of COVID-19 cases reduces the happiness level by 0.13% and increases the proportion of people reporting unhappiness by 0.54%. Possibly, the channels through which the COVID-19 pandemic causes unhappiness are negative effects on economic outcomes and social interactions of people. We also find that more disadvantaged people, including poor, rural, females, and older people, are more likely to be affected by the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Nguyen, Viet Cuong, 2023. "Does the Covid-19 Pandemic Make People Unhappy? Evidence from a Six-Country Survey," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 64(1), pages 18-41, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitjec:v:64:y:2023:i:1:p:18-41
    DOI: 10.15057/hje.2023002
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; happiness; life satisfaction; income loss; job loss;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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