The “Time Windfall” Effect: Why Blockchain Attention Spiked During COVID | Dr. Guneet Kaur Nagpal

Dr. Guneet Kaur Nagpal, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Ivey Business School, Western University, joins us to discuss her research, “Do Time Windfalls Drive Attention to Blockchain? Evidence from COVID-19 Lockdowns.” Drawing on online search behavior across counties in California and New York, she explains how extra discretionary time translated into a measurable rise in blockchain-related searches even after accounting for crypto price movements, suggesting thoughtful learning rather than speculative hype. The conversation also unpacks key nuances, including why unemployment shocks didn’t meaningfully increase blockchain interest while severe health shocks (COVID-19 deaths) dampened it, and what these insights mean for marketers and policymakers trying to build adoption of complex new technologies. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. B. Dr. Guneet Kaur Nagpal shared key insights from her research, “Do Time Windfalls Drive Attention to Blockchain? Evidence from COVID-19 Lockdowns,” in an engaging conversation on the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.