Author: Holden Weisman

By looking at age, internet access, and how often our respondents used technology before the pandemic, we were able to show differences in people’s attitudes towards the increase in online activities during the pandemic. From changes in productivity, to frustration with new technology, to how viable online alternatives are seen, it became clear that the pandemic affected different groups in different ways when it comes to the internet and technology.

Many people have been able to find a bright side in the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we examine who was more or less likely to find elements of the pandemic that they enjoyed, and general trends in what types of things our survey respondents appreciated about life under lockdown.

Online grocery shopping is something that has become increasingly prevalent in the time of the pandemic, for many reasons including concern about COVID-19. This post explores who exactly is ordering groceries online and why, and if this is a trend that is going to continue into the future.

Here, we consider one important implication of COVID-19: the unequal impact that it has on different demographic groups. We examine different groups’ abilities to avoid COVID-19 exposure, continue working and studying, and minimize life disruptions. Overall, low-income groups with lower levels of educational attainment appear to face some of the pandemic’s most pervasive effects.

COVID-19 has changed lives in many ways. Based on early data from our COVID-19 survey, it appears that these changes are not all bad. People are enjoying family time, cooking, and more. They are also transitioning to telecommuting and changing their preferred modes of travel, trends that are expected to stick around in the long term. Overall, the majority of people indicate they may want some aspects of life under the pandemic to continue even after COVID-19 is gone.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a significant impact on our daily lives even after the virus itself is less of a threat. Our comprehensive survey of Chicagoans shows implications for how people will work and travel, and how governments should handle future pandemics. A need for flexible, effective policies that address both health concerns and social needs such as equity and environmentalism are strongly recommended.