This policy brief examines the belief that electing more women to the U.S. Congress would reduce partisan gridlocks. It shows that while Republican women historically cooperated more with Democrats, this was due to ideological proximity rather than gender. Among Democrats, women cooperate less with the opposite party than men. Furthermore, recent years have seen a narrowing of ideological differences along gender-lines among Republicans, reducing gender-based cooperation disparities.

Europe, like other parts of the world, currently grapples with the dual challenges of environmental change and democratic backsliding. In a context marked by rising populism, misinformation, and political manipulation, designing credible sustainable climate policies is more important than ever. The 2024 annual Energy Talk, organized by the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE), gathered experts to bring insight into these challenges and explore potential solutions for enhancing green politics.

The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) is proud to highlight two significant contributions by Torbjörn Becker, Director of SITE, and Anders Åslund, the founding director of SITE, to the newly released book, "The Borders of the European Union in a Conflictual World".

With government backing and collaboration from 15 partners, including Stockholm School of Economics, this initiative is set to change governance and tackle societal challenges. It signals a shift towards sustainability in Sweden's public sector.

Global health is becoming increasingly complex, ranging from pandemics and climate change to wars, migration and deteriorating mental health. There is an urgent need for a new generation of global health leaders, equipped with the skills to navigate complex political environments and drive meaningful change. The Stockholm School of Economics and Karolinska Institutet are now launching a new initiative to meet the challenges ahead.

New research examines link between the prior corporate bankruptcy experiences of directors and CEOs and the financial risk of their current firms.

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!

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.

The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe (FROMDEE) invites paper submissions to a one-day conference on “Democratic backsliding and electoral autocracies” with a keynote lecture by Arturas Rozenas (New York University) on 13 October 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.