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Well-being Analysis Favours a Virus-Elimination Strategy for COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • John F. Helliwell
  • Max B. Norton
  • Shun Wang
  • Lara B. Aknin
  • Haifang Huang

Abstract

A well-being approach requires looking beyond COVID-19 deaths to compare the performance of elimination versus mitigation strategies as measured by other important supports for well-being. What do the data show? Our comparison based on 2020 data shows a virus elimination strategy to be more successful than other options, whether measured in terms of COVID-19 deaths, overall excess deaths, income, unemployment, trust, or mental and physical health. Countries that chose and followed a strategy of reducing community transmission to zero and keeping it there saved lives and better protected income and employment, all without obvious costs to either the social fabric or the mental health of their populations.

Suggested Citation

  • John F. Helliwell & Max B. Norton & Shun Wang & Lara B. Aknin & Haifang Huang, 2021. "Well-being Analysis Favours a Virus-Elimination Strategy for COVID-19," NBER Working Papers 29092, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29092
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhaohui Su & Ali Cheshmehzangi & Dean McDonnell & Junaid Ahmad & Sabina Šegalo & Yu-Tao Xiang & Claudimar Pereira da Veiga, 2022. "The Advantages of the Zero-COVID-19 Strategy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Kai Fischer & J. James Reade & W. Benedikt Schmal, 2021. "The Long Shadow of an Infection: COVID-19 and Performance at Work," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2021-17, Department of Economics, University of Reading.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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