🇺🇦 Do liberal values split along Ukraine’s East-West divide? A new brief by Anders Olofsgård and Cecilia Smitt Meyer from @sitestockholm.bsky.social (SITE) reveals regional differences in attitudes toward democracy and the EU. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/09/22/l... #FREEnetwork #Ukraine #democracy

The ban on imports of russian LNG announced with the 19th sanctions package is very welcome! Here's what the situation looks like and what we should be on the lookout for ⬇️🧵

🚗 What does a 25% drop in new car sales in early 2025 signal about Russia’s economy? Cecilia Smitt Meyer of @sitestockholm.bsky.social examines shifting imports, domestic production, and rising financial risks. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/05/05/r... #Sanctions #Economics #FREEnetwork

The FREE Network retreat just wrapped up in Vilnius, Lithuania! A great opportunity for faculty and staff to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas across institutions. Follow @freenetwork.bsky.social to learn more about the joint initiative in the region. freepolicybriefs.org

📢 SITE Director Torbjörn Becker at EU Commission seminar: "The only fair way to fund Ukraine is by using frozen Russian assets." He lays out a legally sound path toward war reparations, and pushes back against critics of the plan. Watch the seminar (in Swedish): www.youtube.com/live/TdE7xiO...

🥚 What are the key challenges faced by businesses when starting a business in the poultry industry? 🇺🇦 Experts from the KSE Institute explore the barriers to starting and scaling businesses in the poultry industry. kse.ua/about-the-sc... #FREENetwork

🇷🇺 Russia’s oil revenues jumped $0.9B to $14.3B in July 2025, fueled by higher prices and an extra trading day. KSE Institute’s August report shows crude at $8.94B and refined products at $5.39B. The shadow fleet keeps the cash flowing. 🛢️ Full report: kse.ua/about-the-sc... #KSEInstitute #FREEnetwork

⚙️ Can Belarus sustain growth when state-owned enterprises dominate investment? Anatoly Kharitonchik of BEROC analyzes shifts in employment, exports, and trade since 2019. 🔗 freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/16/b... #FREENetwork #BEROC #Belarus

🇸🇪 🇺🇦 How can Sweden turn policy uncertainty into an opportunity for displaced Ukrainians? Anna Anisimova & @lilleberlin.bsky.social of @sitestockholm.bsky.social and Kata Fredheim of #SSERiga and #BICEPS discuss how labor market access and civil society can help. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/04/07/s...

Why are workers underrepresented in Swedish politics—despite being half the electorate? In a new SNS Analys report, SITE’s Olle Folke and co-author Johanna Rickne find that structural barriers—not lack of ambition—keep workers from power. ➡️ Read the report (in Swe): www.sns.se/artiklar/sns...

"Sanctions are biting—but not enough. 'Time is not on Russia’s side,' says SITE Director Torbjörn Becker in La Repubblica, urging stronger EU measures to make the war economically unsustainable for the Kremlin. Learn more (in Italian): www.repubblica.it/esteri/2025/...

📢 Discover SITE’s latest work on economic and policy developments with relevance for Eastern Europe and other transition countries. 📚 Explore our research articles, policy briefs, datasets, reports, and more: research.hhs.se/esploro/sear...

"Ukraine’s drone strikes are hitting Russia’s oil industry hard, causing fuel shortages and long queues. Oil revenues are critical for funding the war", says SITE Director Torbjörn Becker in the latest episode of Radiokorrespondenterna Ryssland. 📻 (in Swe): www.sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/sa-s...

🧊 As debate over seizing Russian assets continues, the question remains: can frozen funds be turned into Ukraine’s reconstruction fund? Anders Olofsgård of @sitestockholm.bsky.social outlines legal and economic options freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/18/s... #FREENetwork #SITE #SanctionsRussia

📉 Russia’s budget is under strain: falling oil and gas revenues, a widening deficit, rising spending, and a slowing economy. How long can it continue? Explore the August #RussiaChartbook by KSE Institute 👉 kse.ua/about-the-sc... #FREENetwork #KSEInstitute

Rebuilding Ukraine is more than just bricks—it's about a rebuilding a modern, secure future. New research paper by @torbjornbecker.bsky.social, @ygorodnichenko.bsky.social, and Beatrice Weder di Mauro maps the path to a resilient, democratic Ukraine. 💡Learn more: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/...

✈️ Which industries stayed and which fled Russia after the invasion of Ukraine? Cecilia Smitt Meyer and Maiting Zhuang from @sitestockholm.bsky.social investigate market exits across sectors. 📘 Discover the insights. freepolicybriefs.org/2024/05/20/b... #FREENetwork #LeaveRussia #SITE

Russia is sliding into recession, says VEB (Russia's state development bank). As EU ministers met in Copenhagen to discuss a 19th sanctions package, Torbjörn Becker (SITE) argues: "I don’t see why we shouldn’t impose every sanction possible." Learn more (in Swe): www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/ryss...

💸 Since 2022, foreign companies have paid over $60B in taxes to Russia, fueling Putin’s war machine. A new report by B4Ukraine, KSE Institute & Squeezing Putin shows how international firms remain a major revenue source for the Kremlin. 📑 Full report: kse.ua/about-the-sc...

US tariffs on Indian goods rise to 50% as pressure over Russian oil imports. How severe is the impact on India? Hear SITE Director Torbjörn Becker discuss with Sveriges Radio’s South Asia correspondent Naila Saleem. 🎧 Learn more (in Swe): www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/trum...

Fuel shortages hit parts of Russia as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt refineries. A95 gasoline prices reach record highs, rising 55% since January. “A clear signal to Russians that the war has domestic costs,” says SITE’s Director Torbjörn Becker. 💡Learn more (in Swe): www.di.se/nyheter/rysk...

The SITE August Newsletter is here! Catch up on July–August highlights, SITE in the media, and upcoming autumn events with SITE & the FREE Network. 🔗 Read more: click.hhs.se/mail/obs/60h... 💌 Not subscribed yet? Sign up today to stay informed on SITE’s work: click.hhs.se/mail/microsi...

🍰 Can an excise tax on sugar and salt-rich foods shift consumer habits? Researchers from BICEPS simulate the short-term impact of introducing a differentiated, broad-based tax on food products. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/09/e... #Nutrition #Policy #FREENetwork

SITE's Torbjörn Becker @torbjornbecker.bsky.social: Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy infrastructure send a “clear signal” to Europe — Russia is not a reliable energy supplier. Renewed attacks raise key questions about EU's energy security. 💡Learn more (in Swe): www.di.se/nyheter/expe...

⚡ Can subsidies replace carbon taxes in fighting climate change? Julius Andersson and Jared Finnegan explore how to align industrial policy with climate goals. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/04/28/g... #climate #taxes #FREENetwork

Despite war and climate goals, a number of EU countries continue importing Russian gas—much of it as LNG—supporting the Kremlin’s revenues. “It’s incomprehensible,” says SITE Director Torbjörn Becker @torbjornbecker.bsky.social. 💡Read the full article (in Swedish): www.dn.se/ekonomi/rysk...

What impact are sanctions really having on Russia’s economy & war capacity? SITE Director Torbjörn Becker @torbjornbecker.bsky.social joined @piie.com experts to discuss Russia’s downturn, Ukraine’s security & reconstruction. 👉 Watch the full discussion here: www.youtube.com/live/QTl4VzD...

SITE is delighted to welcome Anastasiia Arbuzova (Postdoc) & Olle Folke (Professor, Uppsala University) to our team! Their work spans from political economy, gender inequality, & labor market. 👉 Learn more about their research interest and their academic backgrounds: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/...

🚗 How do collapsing car sales reveal the financial strain on Russian households? In her latest policy brief, Cecilia Smitt Meyer of @sitestockholm.bsky.social explores how sanctions, inflation, and loans are reshaping the market. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/05/05/r... #russia #sanctions #FREENetwork

Russia’s war economy is running hot—but cracks are showing. Inflation is rising, reserves shrinking, and banking risks loom. Torbjörn Becker @torbjornbecker.bsky.social shares his insights on this in an interview with SVT. 📺 Watch the full interview (in Swedish): www.svt.se/nyheter/utri...

Russia’s railway sector is in its deepest crisis since 2008. 🚨 With freight volumes down 20 months in a row, it's a clear signal of economic strain, says SITE researcher Maria Perrotta Berlin (@lilleberlin.bsky.social). 👉 Read the full interview (in Swedish): www.dn.se/varlden/rysk...

🔎 Are Russia’s counter-sanctions digging a deep fiscal hole? Anna Anisimova of @sitestockholm.bsky.social traces Russia’s rising fiscal risks and hidden liabilities. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/05/12/r... #FREEnetwork #sanctions #sanctionsrussia

📉 Russia's economy is weakening—shrinking oil revenues, falling reserves, and a growing deficit. As Putin meets Trump in Alaska, it's time to call his bluff, says SITE's Torbjörn Becker: “His hand isn’t as strong as he wants the world to believe.” 💡Read more (in Swe): www.svd.se/a/0V2Xa2/rys...

🌾 How can Ukraine help transform food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa? Mariia Bogonos and Pavlo Martyshev from the Kyiv School of Economics outline opportunities for trade, tech & investment. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/12/u... #FREEnetwork #Ukraine #agriculture

📢 SITE Seminar is back! Join us next week on Aug 19 at 12:00 CEST as Martin Dufwenberg (Purdue University) presents their working paper on Credible Threats - on how communicated threats shape expectations & increase deterrence. 📍At SSE & online via Zoom. 💡Learn more: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/...

💰 Western taxpayers or Russian reserves - who should fund Ukraine’s recovery? 📕 In his latest policy brief, Anders Olofsgård of @sitestockholm.bsky.social examines the legal and economic arguments for confiscating frozen Russian state assets. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/18/s... #FREENetwork

The June SITE Newsletter is out! Explore the real impact of sanctions on Russia, Western investment in Ukraine, global conflict linkages, and AI in energy. Plus: Editor’s Choice on frozen Russian assets. 🌼 SITE’s on summer break—back in Sept! 📨 Read the newsletter: click.hhs.se/mail/obs/60h...

🌾 How can Ukraine's agri-tech boost food security in Africa? A new policy brief explores Ukraine’s strategic agricultural partnerships across Sub-Saharan Africa—from trade and tech transfer to joint ventures. Read the full brief to learn more: freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/12/u...

Join us today in Almedalen, Visby, as Anders Olofsgård, Deputy Director of SITE, takes part in a vital panel on Ukraine’s path forward. See you there! For more info ⬇️

Can frozen Russian state assets fund Ukraine’s recovery? In this policy brief, Anders Olofsgård (Deputy Director of SITE) makes the legal & economic case for their seizure — arguing it’s feasible, justified & necessary. ➡️ Read the full brief to learn more: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/...

Missed the chance to attend our recent seminar? Catch the full recording featuring expert talks on sanctions evasion, enforcement, and Russia’s economic resilience. Also includes the launch of SITE’s Sanctions Web Portal. ▶️ Watch now: youtu.be/Uz25SOXD0KQ?...

🧊 Could frozen Russian state assets be the key to a long-term funding solution for Ukraine? 📌 Anders Olofsgård from @sitestockholm.bsky.social (SITE) examines the legal and economic arguments for confiscating Russian state assets frozen in Western democracies. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/18/s...

📈 The West’s investment in Ukraine could reshape Europe’s future—and deal a major blow to Putin’s vision. 🇺🇦 SITE’s Torbjörn Becker @torbjornbecker.bsky.social explains how massive reconstruction could spark economic growth and secure EU values. Learn more (in Swe): www.sydsvenskan.se/2025-06-17/p...

How does a conflict far from Eastern Europe end up boosting Russia’s war in Ukraine? SITE's Jesper Roine warns that Israel's attack on Iran pushes up oil prices—fueling Russia's war economy. "High oil prices are crucial to Russia’s ability to keep fighting." Watch 🇸🇪 ➡️ : www.tv4.se/artikel/x6EI...

🚜 Can Ukrainian grain, tech, and know-how boost food security in Sub-Saharan Africa? Mariia Bogonos and Pavlo Martyshev of the KSE Center for Food and Land Use chart trade, technology, and investment pathways to sustainable food systems. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/12/u... #FreeNetwork

🔔 Just 2 days to go! Join us at SITE on June 18 for Sanctioning Russia: Policy Tools in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape. A timely seminar + launch of our Sanctions Web Portal. Experts, strategy, insights. ➡️ Learn more & join us online: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/...

⌛️ Just a few seats left! Join SITE on June 18 for a seminar on sanctioning Russia—strategies, challenges & impact. Plus: Launch of our new Sanctions Web Portal. 📍 Stockholm School of Economics or online via Zoom 🔗 Learn more and register here: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/...

🇱🇻 With 60.4% of adults overweight, can Latvia afford to ignore food policy reform? Marija Krumina and Anna Pluta from BICEPS Institute explore the impact of taxing salty and sugary foods in their latest policy brief: freepolicybriefs.org/2025/06/09/e... #FREEnetwork #healthresearch

Rising potato prices in Russia reveal more than inflation—they expose the cracks in Kremlin’s economic narrative. SITE’s Torbjörn Becker @torbjornbecker.bsky.social: official stats mask the truth. War costs bite deep while basic goods become scarce. 💡Learn more (in Swe): www.dn.se/varlden/pota...

🚗 What do plummeting car sales say about Russian household finances? Cecilia Smitt Meyer from @sitestockholm.bsky.social explores how shifts in the car market expose deeper economic vulnerabilities. freepolicybriefs.org/2025/05/05/r... #RussiaEconomy #FREEnetwork #Sanctions