Professor Franz Buscha, Professor of Economics at the University of Westminster, has spoken to Eddie Nestor on BBC Radio London about whether sunshine can make people happier and can have an impact on voter turnout.
In the interview the pair discussed how sunnier seasons can make people happier, with Professor Buscha explaining that a study has shown that when asked if they were happy, 75 out of 100 people said they were during the summer, while only 68 of them said so in the winter.
Looking at the upcoming general election, Professor Buscha highlights that the weather was a topic people were speaking about from the moment the announcement was made in the pouring rain. But more than just conversations around Rishi Sunak’s rain-soaked speech, weather can have an even greater impact on voter turnout, especially in close races.
He said: “There have been some studies that have shown in the 1960 election in the US and the 2000 election where we’ve got Nixon/Kennedy and Gore/Bush, these were actually almost decided by the weather because the voting was so marginal, so tight, a real 50-50 split. The weather mattered on that day.”
However, looking towards the upcoming UK election, Professor Buscha suggests that weather may not play as big a role as it does not appear to be a close battle.
The interview concluded with a discussion around seasonal depression disorder and how best to cope with it. He explains how as well as light exposure, a key way to handle seasonal depression is to get out of the house and stay active despite the long dark days.
He said: “Have you had this where you go into the office in the winter and you come out and it is just darkness and you have had the whole day of darkness? If you do that five days in a row that’s going to affect you - that affects me. So, what is the solution? Go out for a walk, take your lunch break, get out of the office at lunch time.”
Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds from 2:45:03.
