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Were COVID-19 lockdowns worth it? A meta-analysis

Herby, Jonas ; Jonung, Lars LU and Hanke, Steve H. (2024) In Public Choice 201(3-4).
Abstract
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented use of mandatory lockdowns—defined as the imposition of at least one compulsory, non-pharmaceutical intervention—took place. We conduct a meta-analysis to determine the effect of these lockdowns on COVID-19 mortality. Our meta-analysis finds that lockdowns in the spring of 2020 had a relatively small effect on COVID-19 mortality and is consistent with the view that voluntary changes in behavior, such as social distancing, played an important role in mitigating the pandemic. Given the enormous economic costs associated with lockdowns and our findings of the relatively small health benefits, the efficacy of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic is called into question.
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
COVID-19, Restrictions, Lockdown, on-pharmaceutical interventions, Mortality, Meta-analysis, I18, I38, D19
in
Public Choice
volume
201
issue
3-4
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85210572287
ISSN
0048-5829
DOI
10.1007/s11127-024-01216-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1f207286-b184-4bfa-b2d2-65658e6a2227
date added to LUP
2024-12-02 11:00:33
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:30:34
@article{1f207286-b184-4bfa-b2d2-65658e6a2227,
  abstract     = {{Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented use of mandatory lockdowns—defined as the imposition of at least one compulsory, non-pharmaceutical intervention—took place. We conduct a meta-analysis to determine the effect of these lockdowns on COVID-19 mortality. Our meta-analysis finds that lockdowns in the spring of 2020 had a relatively small effect on COVID-19 mortality and is consistent with the view that voluntary changes in behavior, such as social distancing, played an important role in mitigating the pandemic. Given the enormous economic costs associated with lockdowns and our findings of the relatively small health benefits, the efficacy of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic is called into question.}},
  author       = {{Herby, Jonas and Jonung, Lars and Hanke, Steve H.}},
  issn         = {{0048-5829}},
  keywords     = {{COVID-19; Restrictions; Lockdown; on-pharmaceutical interventions; Mortality; Meta-analysis; I18; I38; D19}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{3-4}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Public Choice}},
  title        = {{Were COVID-19 lockdowns worth it? A meta-analysis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11127-024-01216-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11127-024-01216-7}},
  volume       = {{201}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}