COVID-19 as America’s Stress Test

COVID-19 exposed and tested many dimensions of the support system for vulnerable groups and communities. The convergence of racial, political, and economic upheaval amplified and complicated the effects of the pandemic. Social science demonstrated impressive responses in data collection, real-time analyses, and policy guidance. Articles in this volume demonstrate many of these innovations in data and methods. Despite their diversity, these articles also demonstrate consistent themes in the geographical and population targeting of the pandemic, the underlying social vulnerability of particular groups and communities, and the residual population consequences that will occupy researchers and policy-makers for the foreseeable future. Long-term social and economic impacts, from the mental health consequences of death and tragedy to the setbacks in education, job mobility, household financial security, and health, need to become the focus of an ongoing program of research and policy development.