The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about new medium- and long-term challenges that will need to be addressed by economic and social policy. It has also exposed problems that already existed. This statement presents a discussion of the economic consequences of the pandemic. The editors adress the topics of structural changes and economic growth, distribution and ineaquality, the capacity of government organisations and the sustainability of public fiances. Each of these four substantive sections starts out by providing an analysis of the status quo of a particular area, followed by suggestions for specific political courses of action.