Work and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic : evidence from panel data in four countries

Few developments or events in recent decades have changed European societies as quickly and profoundly as the COVID-19 pandemic. Many policy analyses on COVID-19 have focused on the kinds of policies implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19 and their effectiveness in reducing the number of new infections. However, the political, social and psychological consequences of the containment policies are equally important to explore, as their consequences may continue to affect our societies in the medium and longer term. The pandemic and associated containment measures have affected almost every aspect of our societies and any analysis of the social situation during the pandemic should ideally cover several societal areas. This research note provides empirical evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our societies. It focuses on work and well-being, and uses unique datasets to look at the groups most affected.