Following the pandemic (or while it continues) there will be large rises in unemployment and failed businesses. Governments will be under pressure to invent new measures to revive economies. Current government and media debate is conducted in terms of 'when can we return to normal?', blocking out the more serious undercurrents of debate which seek to address the crises of environment and democracy at the same time. Can research now start to monitor and influence how this debate emerges in various countries and how the subsequent policies are shaped?