ºÚÁÏÍø

Sweden has shifted its climate policy from carbon taxes to big investments in nuclear energy, but this new approach may create financial and environmental risks. A new SITE policy brief analysis explores why carbon pricing and green industrial policy should work together—not separately.

As part of its ongoing research on the economic consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) has presented a new report to Sweden’s Minister of Finance. The report provides updated insights into the growing imbalances in the Russian war economy and the financial challenges the government faces in sustaining its current level of military spending.

Sweden has given strong support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion—but there’s been far less attention on the Ukrainians who’ve fled to Sweden. A new policy brief shows that these displaced people face unclear rights and limited support, which makes it harder for them to rebuild their lives and contribute to both Swedish society and Ukraine’s future.

Finnish politicians are on average more intelligent, motivated, and honest than the general population. Jaakko Meriläinen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø, and co-authors show in a new study that both local and national politicians demonstrate higher cognitive and non-cognitive abilities, suggesting that voters and parties effectively select capable leaders.

ºÚÁÏÍø faculty is helping Ukrainian diplomats and civil servants prepare for EU accession talks through hands-on negotiation training in Kyiv. By drawing lessons from past EU enlargement processes, participants practice strategies and develop skills crucial for navigating the complexities of membership discussions.

Academic freedom in the U.S. is under siege, with funding cuts and political interference threatening research. As top scholars look abroad, Sweden has a chance to defend academic independence – and attract world-class talent in the process, ºÚÁÏÍø President Lars StrannegÃ¥rd argues in an op ed in Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter.

Sweden is moving toward a fossil-free future, but its electricity market faces significant uncertainties regarding demand, costs, and policy directions. A new report by SITE research fellow Chloé Le Coq and her co-authors highlights that Sweden’s energy transition cannot happen in isolation. Strong European cooperation and robust regulatory frameworks are crucial for ensuring stability and efficiency.

War reshapes societies, but does it make people more cooperative or more divided? A new policy brief from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) explores how exposure to violence affects social trust, cooperation, and political engagement. The findings have important implications for Ukraine’s future, particularly its path toward EU membership.

The Baltic states officially severed their energy ties with Russia and Belarus on February 7, 2025, successfully desynchronizing from the BRELL electricity network without experiencing blackouts. However, recent cable disruptions in the Baltic Sea have raised new energy security concerns, underscoring the need to diversify and decentralize power systems. A new SITE policy brief analyzes the challenges and lessons learned from this transition and compares it to Ukraine’s energy resilience.

Western support for Ukraine is at a crossroads, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. A new policy brief from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE), authored by Torbjörn Becker, Maria Perrotta Berlin, Anders Olofsgård, and Jesper Roine, argues that continued aid is not only a moral duty but also an economic necessity for Europe, emphasizing that the cost of allowing Russia to win would far exceed the price of sustained assistance.