Measuring the global experience of the pandemic

Life with Corona project measures global experience of pandemic

A survey is collecting real-time data on how people around the world are dealing with the pandemic.

The ongoing pandemic and its countermeasures have led to varying physical, psychological, and emotional experiences, shaping not just public health and the economy but also societies.

Life with Corona – led by Professor Patricia Justino from the Institute of Development Studies and Professor Tilman Brück from the International Security and Development Center in Berlin – received initial funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

This was through its large grant, ‘Inequality and Governance in Unstable Democracies: The Mediating Role of Trust,’ which builds a knowledge base on the social and economic impacts of the pandemic worldwide.

How will the pandemic change societies?

What implications will this coronavirus pandemic have on the daily lives of people around the world?

How will it affect the mental health, eating habits and social cohesion as well as expectations towards politics and public administration?

And how will these factors develop over time as new information about the virus emerges and new measures are implemented by states?

Life with Corona captures the voices and moods of affected citizens around the world, collecting data to provide answers to these questions.

Professor Patricia Justino said:

People who live through extreme events are often deeply altered by the experiences they have.

Our aim is to give anyone and everyone a voice by providing the opportunity to tell us how they perceive this situation, the behaviours they’ve undertaken and how it might be different from how they have felt and acted before.

Our findings to date suggest that the effects of the pandemic go well beyond immediate health concerns, leading to important normative changes that are likely to shape how societies will emerge from the pandemic.

A global survey with real-time insight

Life with Corona is available in 26 languages. So far, over 12,000 people from 101 countries have taken part.

The team publishes insights from the survey almost every week, highlighting trends about trust in government, life satisfaction, stockpiling of supplies, compliance with recommended behaviours and more.

Life with Corona: insights

Life with Corona has published regular insights since it was established on 23 March 2020.

It was initiated by social scientists from the Institute of Development Studies, the International Security and Development Center, the Leibniz Institute and the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research.

The survey will run at least until the end of 2020.

Take part in Life with Corona.

Last updated: 2 July 2021

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