The forces behind social unrest during the Covid-19 pandemic
Author Information
Author(s): Lackner Mario, Sunde Uwe, Winter-Ebmer Rudolf
Primary Institution: JKU University of Linz, Linz, Austria
Hypothesis
Higher exposure to COVID-19 leads to more negative emotions and perceptions of the economy.
Conclusion
The study found that negative emotional stress related to the Covid-19 pandemic is significantly associated with increased social unrest, especially in politically polarized environments.
Supporting Evidence
- Pandemic-related unemployment and Covid-19 fatalities intensified negative emotional stress.
- Negative emotional stress was associated with increased social unrest as measured by political protests.
- Effects were stronger in politically polarized environments.
Takeaway
When people feel stressed and worried because of Covid-19, they are more likely to protest, especially if they live in places where people have strong political opinions.
Methodology
The study used a combination of nationally representative survey data, event data on social unrest, and data on Covid-19 fatalities and unemployment at a weekly resolution.
Potential Biases
The study may be influenced by the political polarization in the U.S., which could affect the generalizability of the findings.
Limitations
The analysis focuses on a single major disruptive event, the Covid-19 pandemic, which may limit generalizability to other contexts.
Participant Demographics
The study included a nationally representative sample of individuals aged 18 or older from the Gallup panel.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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