The Stockholm Institute for Transition Economics (SITE) invited researchers and stakeholders to SITE's 2023 Development Day conference to discuss how to undermine Russia’s capacity to wage war. This policy brief shortly summarizes the featured presentations and discussions.

SITE and FREE Network researchers delve into Europe's rising fuel costs, post-geopolitical shifts. Focused on gasoline and diesel prices, the study assesses household impacts, advocating nuanced policy responses to address economic challenges in the wake of global energy crises.

On October 13th, 2023, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe (FROMDEE) hosted an academic conference on “Democratic Backsliding and Electoral Autocracies”. This brief provides a short summary of the keynote lecture and research presentations featured at the conference.

In a landmark move amid energy volatility, the EU adopts AggregateEU for joint gas procurement. This brief, written by SITE researchers Chloé Le Coq and Elena Paltseva, evaluates challenges in gas market dynamics following the energy crisis, addressing design issues of this innovative mechanism.

A recent survey in Ukraine indicates unprecedented 89% support for NATO membership, showcasing a historic shift in attitudes across regions. This brief, by Anna Anisimova (SITE), explores the evolution of pro-NATO sentiment, regional divides, and the impact of Russian aggression on public opinion.

A 2023 study by SITE researchers explores the overlooked link between foreign aid and female empowerment. Using aid project data and surveys, it reveals a modest but significant positive effect on various aspects of women's empowerment. Read the policy brief to learn more!

On 8-10 September, 2023, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the FREE Network hosted the annual Retreat in Visby to discuss its institutes’ respective work of research areas, from politics to climate change to consumer behavior and joint efforts within the Network.

In the 20th century, women's presence grew in academia and other high-skilled professions, yet disparities persist. This brief highlights the key takeaways from the conference organized by the Centre of Economic Analysis (CenEA), together with the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Gender Economics (FROGEE) on 21-22 June, 2023, in Warsaw.

In this brief, Pamela Campa and co-author examine the EU commissions (EC) proposal and highlight its commendable aim of strengthening environmental regulation enforcement at the EU level. However, they also note its limitations in terms of the enforcement tools it encompasses. Their focus is on discussing the potential benefits of utilizing administrative law tools for enforcing environmental regulation, in contrast to the current emphasis on criminal law in the EC's approach.

In this brief, Jonathan Lehne and Maiting Zhuang examines the fragility of democratic institutions in Eastern Europe, comparing expert assessments and general population surveys. Experts' concerns have intensified, yet voters in almost all new EU member states and across age groups express growing satisfaction with their democracies. The study reveals a shift where people's perception of democracy is increasingly influenced by election outcomes rather than actual institutional change, even when media freedom or judicial independence is restricted by governments.