Generosity in Times of Crisis: Australian Helping Behaviours During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the world into a health crisis that has had devastating effects on the global economy and public life in many countries. Little is known about how people have responded to two competing pressures caused by the crisis in many countries: increased community need coupled with decreased financial capacity to help others. We surveyed 1,007 Australians in August 2020 to understand how their generosity behaviours manifested and changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. By generosity we mean all forms of behaviour that people engage in with the intention of benefiting others (including people, animals, and environments). Two key findings emerged: 1. Generosity behaviours were very common during the COVID-19 pandemic and manifested in diverse ways, both in Australia and around the world. The most common generosity behaviours were: (a) informal helping of friends and family, and (b) formal helping through established not-for-profits. 2. Changes in people’s generosity behaviours were driven primarily by changes in their personal circumstances (e.g. financial insecurity, health threats) and government policies implemented to respond to the crisis (e.g. lockdowns, wage subsidies).