# 162 benefits of coronavirus

  

\[More added: now 183\]

WHILE THE HUGE harms of coronavirus are well-known – death, illness, lockdowns, unemployment, recession, etc. – less attention has understandably been paid to the benefits.

Even clouds this dark have silver linings. Crises produce opportunities, innovation, and long-overdue reforms. 2020 will contain an [extra year’s worth](https://medium.com/wintoncentre/how-much-normal-risk-does-covid-represent-4539118e1196) of mortality – but also a decade’s worth of progress, a leap into the future.

This post lists many benefits that could arise, so readers can consider how to maximize them, not just minimize harms. They cover a wide range of consequences. For example, lockdown has made many people (even [drug gangsters](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52535549?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk&link_location=live-reporting-story)) reassess their lives. Working from home has suddenly become normal, with less commuting, less cost, and more time for leisure and sleep. So people may move from cities to cheaper, more pleasant areas, or indeed countries.

Above all, coronavirus is a wake-up call - it could have been [far worse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death). Better preparation for the next pandemic will reduce [existential risk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk), potentially saving billions, or even trillions, of future lives.

**Experiment & evolve**
-----------------------

Lockdowns have created an experiment, making people and organisations re-think how - and why - they do things. Some activities become impossible and are abandoned, e.g. travel. For others, alternatives are tried, e.g. video calls for meetings and doctor’s appointments; or innovations, such as businesses [sharing employees](https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-03-09/Employee-sharing-helping-companies-get-through-COVID-19-OqvFZWc67m/index.html). This experimentation will continue well beyond lockdown, as the new reality emerges.

Many of these changes will turn out to be improvements, and will stick. Others, e.g. [government-funded furloughing](https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-has-idled-millions-of-european-workers-governments-are-picking-up-the-tab-11587547802) and [virtual horse races](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/52066925), are temporary fixes which will go - as will changes that didn’t work. And things that were dropped as unnecessary, e.g. pointless meetings and regulations, will stay dropped.

All of this involves prioritizing: deciding what outcomes matter, and which solutions now work best. Many things will modernize, simplify, and become more efficient. Cost-effectiveness is key, as incomes will shrink for a while.

Finally, lessons will be learned from what went badly in the pandemic, and steps taken to improve resilience and prepare for future crises.

We can also view the situation in terms of evolution. The world has been struck by a metaphorical meteor, threatening not just lives, but ways of life. Those organisations, jobs, and activities that are fittest for the new environment, or can adapt, will survive. Others that are no longer useful will die out, often replaced by innovations, to produce a new normal.

**The benefits**
================

The list below contains all the potential long-term benefits of the pandemic that I could find or think of. No doubt it is somewhat focused on rich countries, though this is not the aim. Please suggest additions or changes in the comments.

Some benefits have started under lockdown, such as more volunteering. Others may come later, such as de-urbanization.

Some are mixed blessings, causing substantial harm as well; e.g. failures of non-viable businesses, charities and educational institutions. With some items it’s unclear, or a matter of opinion, whether it is a benefit or not, e.g. political changes. While many potential benefits are speculative, some are especially so - more hopes than predictions; e.g. better international cooperation, in reaction to the protectionism of the pandemic. So I’ve qualified some entries accordingly:

*   ± Benefit with substantial harm, or unclear whether it’s a net benefit at all
*   ? Very speculative

**Disaster preparedness**
-------------------------

**Governments:**

*   Preparation for future pandemics
*   ?Planning for existential risks: if coronavirus prompts even a small improvement in this, it would vastly outweigh all of the pandemic's harms*

**Businesses & other organisations:**

*   Continuity planning
*   Insurance
*   Better contractual arrangements, e.g. force majeure clauses
*   More robust supply chains, e.g. less just-in-time manufacturing
*   ±[Re-shoring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshoring#Re-shoring)

**Individuals:**

*   Saving
*   Insurance
*   ±Survivalism

**Spare capacity & redundancy:**

*   Essential services: e.g. healthcare, supermarkets
*   Critical infrastructure
*   Manufacturing
*   Stockpiling essential supplies: e.g. food, fuel, medicines, vaccines, PPE

**Government**
--------------

**Welfare state:**

*   ±Increased safety net for healthcare, unemployment, etc.
*   ±Calls for Universal Basic Income: due to [government-funded furloughing](https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-has-idled-millions-of-european-workers-governments-are-picking-up-the-tab-11587547802) in some countries during lockdowns

**Digitization & modernization:**

*   [E-government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-government)
*   Faster processing of benefit applications
*   Remote operation & streamlining of courts
*   Remote operation of parliaments
*   Electronic & postal voting

**Trust in government** in some countries: due to effective pandemic control, job retention schemes, etc.

**Change of government/leader** in some countries**:** if they did not handle pandemic well

**Less avoidance of tax and regulations**, as a result of [re-shoring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshoring#Re-shoring)

**Cost-saving efficiencies** due to higher debt & lower tax revenue

**?Transparency of government**

**?More constructive national politics**

**?Improved international cooperation**, e.g.:

*   World Health Organisation
*   Trade in essentials, e.g. food, energy, medical supplies
*   Disaster preparedness (see above)

**?Foreign aid:**

*   Healthcare aid
*   Suspend debts
*   ±Cancel debts

**?[Ceasefires](https://www.ft.com/content/0209306c-8861-11ea-a01c-a28a3e3fbd33?fbclid=IwAR3U3hVfnPacRw6efd6jsnxOWfb_JGexgWsdlHfXdJPfisjE9L9ic-7rErY)** during pandemic in conflict zones, perhaps continuing afterwards

**?[Wellbeing/happiness economics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness_economics)** take-up, as the pandemic highlights dilemmas between lives, livelihoods, and quality of life

**Health & science**
--------------------

**Public healthcare funding:**

*   For spare capacity (see **Disaster preparedness**)
*   ?Policies to promote health, diet & exercise, particularly to groups which had disproportionate coronavirus mortality
*   ?Care home funding

**International collaboration on health research**

**Faster health research processes:**

*   Disease research
*   Vaccine & drug development
*   ±Deregulation
*   Journal publishing

**Advances in virology, epidemiology, sociology etc.** from coronavirus research

**Infectious disease reduction**, due to long-term hygiene improvements (e.g. handwashing, ?face masks):

*   Common diseases, e.g. colds, flu, food poisoning
*   Rarer, more serious diseases, e.g. some cancers
*   Diseases not previously known to be infectious
*   Future pandemics

**[Telehealth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telehealth)**, including:

*   Symptom checking apps
*   Video consultations & therapy
*   Online prescribing
*   Treatments sent by post
*   Online self-help & automated therapy, e.g. for mental health
*   Remote monitoring

Hence:

**[Digitization of health data](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record):**

*   More efficient, e.g. the UK's NHS still relies on paper records
*   Enables research on the data

**Self-care:**

*   Physical health: importance highlighted by increased coronavirus mortality (even though lockdown may produce shorter-term harms from alcohol and less exercise)
*   Mental health: importance highlighted by lockdowns and anxiety about health & jobs
*   More cycling & walking: to avoid infection risk on public transport
*   Sleep: improved by less commuting or shorter work hours (see **Work**)
*   Personal health trackers: more usage & features, e.g. measuring temperature

**Trust in science** **and medicine**

**Work**
--------

**[Remote work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommuting)** (usually office jobs):

*   From home; cafes, shared workspaces etc. nearby; or while travelling elsewhere
*   Move home to better/cheaper area or country, or to be nearer family/friends (see **Relocation & transport**)
*   Saves office cost, commuting time & cost
*   [Digital transformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_transformation) of organisations, increasing efficiency
*   More international employment & collaboration
*   More work for disabled people
*   Less 'presenteeism' (unnecessary attendance at work)
*   Better rural Internet access
*   ?Less office politics: as harder to do remotely
*   ?VR headsets for remote meetings, etc.

**Change in work hours** to suit worker (e.g. after reflection during lockdown), as cost/job-saving measure by employer, or to enable social distancing in workplaces/transport:

*   [Flexi-time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flextime)
*   ±Shorter hours / part-time work
*   ±Shifts
*   ±Weekends
*   Remote workers paid for actions & results, not hours: as hours harder to track

**Change of job/career:**

*   After reflection during lockdown
*   ±Forced by unemployment

**±[Bullshit jobs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs)** **cut**

**±Automation of jobs**: as cost-saving measure, or to reduce risk of worker absence in future lockdowns/crises

**Fewer, more efficient meetings**: as video conferences, or due to simplifications under lockdown

**Corporate eLearning**

**?Better worker terms/rights:**

*   Essential workers' pay
*   Casual workers
*   Minimum wage
*   Sick leave

**Business**
------------

**Innovation** to deal with new circumstances, compete for reduced demand, or cut costs, e.g.:

*   Extended supermarket hours, or dedicated hours for vulnerable groups, to reduce crowding (even long-term, if further pandemic waves are expected)
*   [Sharing employees](https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-03-09/Employee-sharing-helping-companies-get-through-COVID-19-OqvFZWc67m/index.html) between different businesses, in response to changes of demand
*   [Drive-in cinemas](https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/may/05/social-distance-cinema-drive-in-theatres-boom-coronavirus-in-pictures) for social distancing
*   Use of technology

**Retail:**

*   **±**More online groceries, Amazon, Alibaba, Deliveroo, etc.
*   Automated warehouses and delivery (see **Relocation & transport**) to fulfill increased online orders
*   More self-checkout in physical stores, to avoid infection risk
*   Checkout-less stores, e.g. [Amazon Go](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42769096)
*   High Street/Main Street switch from products to services: due to competition from online retail

**±Business failures** \- especially if barely viable even before the pandemic, or have crowded spaces, e.g.:

*   Restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, hotels
*   Cinemas, theatres
*   Department stores
*   Airlines, cruise ships

**Relocation & transport**
--------------------------

**[De-urbanization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterurbanization)** due to remote work (see **Work**):

*   Lower urban property/real estate prices
*   Lower commercial property/real estate prices, due to less office usage
*   Lower inequalities between regions of countries

**Remote workers moving country:**

*   To cheaper or more desirable locations
*   ?Better governance, tax breaks, etc. to attract such workers
*   ?Lower inequalities between countries

**±[Re-shoring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshoring#Re-shoring)** (see **Disaster preparedness**)

**Less transport:**

*   ±Less international freight: due to [deglobalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deglobalization)
*   Less work travel: due to less commuting, fewer in-person meetings & conferences, re-shoring (see **Work**)
*   ±Less public transport: due to infection risk and restrictions on international travel (even long-term, if further pandemic waves expected)
*   Hence more cycling & walking
*   Less driving to stores: due to online shopping, infection risk in malls (though de-urbanization may increase some driving)
*   Less pollution (see **Environment & nature**)
*   ±Lower fuel prices
*   ±Staycations: replacing foreign travel
*   ?Fewer road deaths - though train/bus passengers may switch to cars

**?Delivery drones, self-driving vehicles, etc.** to fulfill increased online orders

**Environment & nature**
------------------------

**Pollution:**

*   Less CO2 and air pollution
*   ?Awareness of noise pollution: after urban silence & birdsong under lockdown
*   ?Increased climate change concern

**Animals:**

*   Reduction/banning of wild animal capture & sale
*   Better conditions in live animal markets
*   ?Better animal farming conditions
*   Happier & healthier pets, as get more attention from home workers

**Outdoor activities** as social distancing measure (even long-term, if further pandemic waves are expected):

*   Visiting parks, gardens, playgrounds, countryside
*   Camping, hiking, fishing, boating, cycling, etc.
*   Outdoor sports, swimming pools, gyms
*   Open-air bars, restaurants, cafes
*   Open-air concerts, cinemas, theatres

**Education**
-------------

**Home schooling:**

*   ±Part-time: to enable social distancing in schools (even long-term, if further pandemic waves are expected)
*   ?±Full-time
*   Better parental understanding of children's education, due to home schooling during lockdown

**Distance learning:**

*   To support home schooling
*   Online university courses
*   ?Online exams

**Re-assessment of education & educational institutions**, including:

*   ?What they are for
*   In-person vs distance learning
*   ?Private school & university fees

**±Bankruptcies of some educational institutions**

**?±More continuous assessment** following exam cancellations in e.g. UK

**Adult education** started under lockdown, e.g. learning an instrument or language

**Leisure**
-----------

**More leisure time** if stop commuting, or work shorter hours (see **Work**)

**Entertainment** tried/increased under lockdown, e.g.:

*   Arts & culture: music, reading, podcasts, painting, etc.
*   ±TV & video streaming: e.g. replacing cinema
*   Games, puzzles & quizzes
*   Web surfing
*   ±Social media

**Other pursuits & hobbies** tried/increased under lockdown, e.g.

*   Cooking
*   Takeaways / Deliveroo: e.g. replacing restaurants
*   Exercise
*   DIY / home improvement
*   Spring cleaning / decluttering
*   Gardening
*   Crafts
*   Knitting & sewing
*   Adult education (see **Education**)
*   Self-improvement / personal development
*   Meditation
*   **±**Prayer / worship

**More online entertainment**, e.g. live events, reaching wider audiences

**Relationships**
-----------------

**Some relationships improved/renewed** **by lockdown:**

*   With partner
*   With children
*   With other family members, e.g. via video call
*   Friendships via video call, social media, etc.

**New online friendships/relationships** under lockdown

**More time with partner, family & friends** if stop commuting, or work shorter hours (see **Work**)

**±Divorce / break-up**, brought to a head by lockdown

**Charity & community**
-----------------------

**Volunteering**, e.g. started under lockdown

**?More charitable donations / philanthropy**

**Cost-saving efficiencies** if donations fall due to lower incomes

**Innovation** to deal with new circumstances or cut costs

**Support for local community & businesses**: e.g. due to home workers spending more time where they live

**±Charity closures** \- hopefully counterproductive or low effectiveness ones

**Perspective**
---------------

**Re-evaluation of life**, including:

*   Meaning, purpose & values
*   Priorities & inessentials
*   Likes & dislikes
*   Own strengths & weaknesses
*   Opportunities & concerns
*   Death
*   Health: physical & mental
*   Relationships
*   Work, and work-life balance
*   Money

**Appreciation** of:

*   Essential services and key workers, e.g. in healthcare, social care, supermarkets, teaching, technology, mail & deliveries, transport, police
*   Role and importance of government, science, media, business and charities
*   Volunteers and helpful people
*   The elderly
*   Activities missed during lockdown, e.g. social contact, culture, sports, nature & the outdoors, tourism, cafes, bars, restaurants, religious worship
*   Domesticity
*   Simple pleasures
*   Solitude

**Attitudes:**

*   Kindness, consideration
*   Public spirit, less individualism
*   ±Less materialism / consumerism
*   Resilience
*   Self-reliance
*   Flexibility
*   Acceptance of mortality
*   Acceptance of uncertainty
*   Humility, less complacency
*   ?±Short-termism, living in the present
*   ?Less concern about own appearance
*   ?Less attention to celebrities
*   ?Solidarity with other countries

**Miscellaneous**
-----------------

**±Deaths:**

*   ?±Beneficial if the world is overpopulated; or if humans, or those who died, are generally harmful or their lives not worthwhile; according to some (controversial) ethical theories
*   ±Redistribution of wealth to younger generations

**?End of physical cash** due to [infection risk](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-fed-dollars/fed-quarantines-u-s-dollars-repatriated-from-asia-on-coronavirus-caution-idUSKBN20T1YT):

*   Traceability reduces crime & tax evasion
*   Simplifies government emergency handouts

**?Less crime**, as criminals [reassess their lives](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52535549?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk&link_location=live-reporting-story)

**?Better bank treatment of borrowers** as continuation of special terms under lockdown

**?Better rights for renters** after evictions suspended during lockdown (e.g. in UK)

**?More fact-checking on social media**

**Other resources**
-------------------

[This list](https://docs.google.com/document/d/17YkH4kc63t7JI7JJZR6i3-iebJd7kfRAzAK_ssl8bt4/edit) includes harmful consequences of coronavirus (as well as various of the above benefits).

In-depth discussion of some points is in a [Politico article](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/coronavirus-effect-economy-life-society-analysis-covid-135579) and [FT series](https://www.ft.com/aftermath) (paywall).

* * *

*Toby Ord's new book _[The Precipice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Precipice:_Existential_Risk_and_the_Future_of_Humanity)_ estimates that the human race will only last another 600 years or so before it is wiped out, or permanently crippled, by a pandemic (probably a [bioweapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_agent)) or other [existential risk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk).

If coronavirus makes the world prepare slightly better for such disasters, thereby reducing the risk by say 1%, it would extend the human race by an expected value of 600 years × 1% = 6 years. The world population is [forecast](https://ourworldindata.org/future-population-growth#global-population-growth) to reach about 11 billion, so this would save 6 years × 11 billion = **66 billion years** of life.

If coronavirus kills 10 million people worldwide, each losing [10 years](https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/05/02/would-most-covid-19-victims-have-died-soon-without-the-virus?cid1=cust%2Fednew%2Fn%2Fbl%2Fn%2F2020%2F04%2F30n%2Fowned%2Fn%2Fn%2Fnwl%2Fn%2Fn%2FUK%2F463610%2Fn&fbclid=IwAR3rQ1WgnYBC3Sh8bs1HkvLMMR7YqALpVnnfqziwo02WPCrs2KMY7vnOHf8) of life on average, **100 million years** of life will be lost. This is a minute fraction of the benefit from improved disaster preparedness.