One thing I keep thinking about is that as consensus sees wider deployment of vaccines as the only path to normalcy (sometimes next year), what would happen if we return to "normal" with only better hygiene, test/trace, treatments, and the sheer desire/will for community?

What would happen to the risky assets in this case? How would different asset classes perform? How would sectors within an asset class perform relative to each other? How would you isolate and validate this thesis?

Well, OK, two things. With lower long-term expected returns but unrealistic target returns, as institutions expect continued accommodative policies and move out further on the risk curve, will they become the persistent dip buyers that prevent big drawdowns over the medium term?

What would happen to realized and implied market volatility? What would happen to cross asset correlation? How can you best capture this scenario?

cc: @bennpeifert on this one for his unique thoughts.