Happiness Lost: Was the Decision to Implement Lockdown the Correct One?

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aut.relation.journalSouth African Journal of Economic and Management Sciencesen_NZ
dark.contributor.authorRossouw, Sen_NZ
dark.contributor.authorGreyling, Ten_NZ
dark.contributor.authorAdhikari, Ten_NZ
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-29T01:27:06Z
dc.date.available2021-04-29T01:27:06Z
dc.date.copyright2021-04-28en_NZ
dc.date.issued2021-04-28en_NZ
dc.description.abstractBackground: Amid the rapid global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many governments enforced country-wide lockdowns, likely with severe well-being consequences. The actions by governments triggered a debate on whether the costs of a lockdown, economically and in well-being, surpass the benefits perceived from a lower infection rate. Aim: To use the Gross National Happiness index (GNH), derived from Big Data, to investigate the determinants of happiness before and during the first few months of a lockdown in a country as an extreme case, South Africa (a country with low levels of well-being and stringent lockdown regulations). Next, to estimate (1) the probability of being happy during a pandemic year, before and after the implemented lockdown, relative to the mean happiness levels of the previous year, and (2) to utilise simulations to estimate the probability of being happy if there were no lockdown. Setting: This study considers the effect of government-mandated lockdown on happiness in South Africa. Methods: We use Big Data in the forms of Twitter and Google Trends to derive variables and ordinary least squares and ordered probit estimation methods. Results: What contributes to happiness under lockdown, except for COVID-19 cases, are the factors linked to the implemented regulations themselves. If we compare scenarios pre- and post-lockdown, we report a happiness cost of 9%. The simulations indicate that assuming there were no lockdown in 2020, the relative well-being gain is 3%. Conclusion: If policymakers want to increase happiness levels and the probability of achieving the same happiness levels as in 2019, they should consider factors related to the regulations that can increase happiness levels.
dc.identifier.citationSouth African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 24(1), 11 pages. doi:https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3795
dc.identifier.doi10.4102/sajems.v24i1.3795en_NZ
dc.identifier.issn1015-8812en_NZ
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/14150
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoriaen_NZ
dc.relation.urihttps://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/3795
dc.rights© 2021 Stephanié Rossouw, Talita Greyling, Tamanna Adhikari. This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccessen_NZ
dc.subjectHappiness; COVID-19; Big Data; Regulations; South Africa
dc.titleHappiness Lost: Was the Decision to Implement Lockdown the Correct One?en_NZ
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.elements-id429863
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Business School Accreditation
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Business School Accreditation/2020
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Faculty of Business, Economics and Law/NZ Work Research Institute
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Faculty of Culture & Society
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Faculty of Culture & Society/School of Social Science & Public Policy
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Faculty of Culture & Society/School of Social Science & Public Policy/School Office
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Business Economics and Law
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Business Economics and Law/Faculty Review Team PBRF 2018
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Business Economics and Law/School of Economics PBRF 2018
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