Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics

12/10/2026

Will the US–Russia diesel deal bring down oil prices? SITE's Director Torbjörn Becker is sceptical.

Commenting on Donald Trump’s agreement with Vladimir Putin for large-scale Russian diesel deliveries to the United States, Becker assesses that the deal is unlikely to reduce global crude oil prices or ease cost pressures for American motorists.

He points to continued geopolitical instability in the Middle East as a key factor likely to keep oil prices elevated. At the same time, he questions Russia’s ability to deliver the announced volumes amid Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Becker also warns that the agreement could channel significant revenues into Russia’s war economy.

“Don’t think that we can buy ourselves a lower oil price by giving Putin concessions left and right – that capacity simply isn’t there,” he says.

➡️ Read the full article in Dagens Industri (in Swedish): https://www.di.se/nyheter/expert-trumps-dieselaffar-leder-inte-till-lagre-oljepris/

02/10/2026

What does it mean for a company to comply with sanctions - not only legally, but also in relation to their broader economic and political purpose?

A new investigation by Göteborgs-Posten and ICIJ reports that global commodities trading company Gunvor continued significant trade with Russian energy companies in 2024, despite earlier public statements about winding down its Russian business. The article stresses that sanctions are legally complex and says it has no information indicating that Gunvor’s transactions violated sanctions or other laws.

SITE's Maria Perrotta Berlin highlights an important distinction:
“There is a difference between following the absolute minimum required by law and trying to act in line with the overall purpose of sanctions, which is to reduce Russia’s revenues and economic capacity to wage war.”

She also points to the importance of transparency. When significant trade continues through exemptions or other permitted channels, it becomes harder for the public and policymakers to assess how effectively sanctions are working.

The investigation raises broader questions about corporate due diligence, transparency, and the role companies play when sanctions leave room for legally permitted trade.

➡️ Read the full article at Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish): https://www.gp.se/nyheter/gp-granskar/experterna-reagerar-pa-gunvor-avslojandet-understodjer-rysslands-krig.c51d4ffd-43d7-5c64-85c2-f3907d94fa92

01/10/2026

How can Ukraine attract the investment needed for reconstruction while protecting its institutions?

Join SITE and the Institute of Legislative Ideas (ILI) on October 15 for a discussion on “corrosive capital,” investment governance risks, and foreign direct investment screening.

As Ukraine plans for recovery amid Russia’s ongoing war, investment will be essential. Yet some investments can give their backers influence over public decisions, even when operating within the law. How Ukraine manages these risks will matter both for its reconstruction and its path toward EU membership.

The event brings together researchers, Ukrainian policy experts, and European practitioners, with Tetiana Khutor, Chairwoman and co-founder of Institute of Legislative Ideas, joining as a special guest. Her work focuses on Ukraine’s economic security, including foreign investment screening, sanctions enforcement, asset recovery, and mechanisms to counter hostile economic influence.

📅 October 15, 2026
🕘 09:00–12:00 CEST
📍 Stockholm School of Economics
🎟️ Free attendance – registration required
🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.hhs.se/events/site-external-events/2026/ukraine-reconstruction-and-investment-governance/

01/10/2026

🇦🇲 Who gets access to startup capital in Armenia?
https://freepolicybriefs.org/2026/09/28/gender-gaps-access-startup-capital/

🔎 Vahagn Grigoryan at the American University of Armenia and Suren Karapetyan, a PhD student at Charles University, examine the gender gap in startup funding.

🧷 Explore more policy briefs on entrepreneurship and gender:
https://freepolicybriefs.org/topics/gender/

25/09/2026

SITE has received funding from the Swedish Institute to strengthen the FREE Network and advance research and policy expertise related to future EU accession.

“EU accession is a demanding process that requires both strong institutions and access to credible, independent analysis. This funding gives us an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation between researchers across the region and bring research-based insights into the policy debate,” says Anders Olofsgård, Deputy Director of SITE.

The project will advance research cooperation, policy analysis & knowledge exchange on reforms needed for future EU accession across Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

➡️ Learn more: https://www.hhs.se/news/site-publications/2026/site-swedish-institute-funding-free-network/

23/09/2026

“Hope is a deliberate cognitive strategy.”

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk recently joined SITE at the Stockholm School of Economics for a conversation about human rights, democracy and resilience during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Matviichuk, who has led the Center for Civil Liberties since 2007, reflected on the resilience she has witnessed in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of culture, trust, human dignity and the role of ordinary people in sustaining society during times of crisis.

Her lecture also explored the challenges facing democratic societies amid war, disinformation and rapidly changing technology.

The event continued with a discussion chaired by SITE Deputy Director Jesper Roine and questions from the audience on democracy, human rights, international law and the wider implications of the war.

📺 Watch the full lecture and discussion:

On September 18, 2026, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Econom...

22/09/2026

In a recent DN Debatt article, SITE’s Torbjörn Becker, Anders Olofsgård, Jesper Roine and Maria Perrotta Berlin highlight three key perspectives on Sweden’s and Europe’s support for Ukraine.

They emphasize that Ukraine should be seen as Europe’s first line of defence, but also as an important source of experience and knowledge on how societies can maintain resilience, preparedness and essential functions under prolonged threat.

They also discuss how support for Ukraine should be financed, the role of the EU, and the use of frozen Russian central bank assets to strengthen Ukraine’s public finances.

Their central message: the relationship with Ukraine should be viewed as a partnership built on shared security and mutual learning, rather than solely as aid.

🔎 Read the full op-ed in DN Debatt (in Swedish): https://www.dn.se/debatt/det-sista-sverige-far-gora-nu-ar-att-vanda-blicken-inat/

21/09/2026

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) joins the Armenian Embassy in Sweden and the Armenian people in celebrating Armenia’s independence.

This year’s celebration also provides an opportunity to highlight SITE’s growing collaboration with the American University of Armenia (AUA), which recently joined the Forum for Research on Eastern Europe and Emerging Economies, and our shared commitment to research and policy dialogue on some of the challenges and opportunities facing Armenian society.

Following the Independence Day celebrations, starting on Monday, September 28, the FREE Network will publish a new series of policy briefs dedicated to “Closing Gender Gaps in Armenian Society.” The series is part of the Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet)-funded project Closing Gender Gaps Through Economic Research, a collaboration between SITE and AUA.

The series brings together research and policy perspectives on different dimensions of gender inequality in Armenia. It aims to make evidence-based analysis accessible to policymakers, researchers, and the wider public, and to contribute to the ongoing discussion about policies that can expand opportunities for women and men across Armenian society.

The policy briefs will be published on the FREE Network website, with the first brief released on September 28, 2026.

💡 Visit FREE Network website to learn more: https://freepolicybriefs.org/

18/09/2026

There is still time to join us online for today’s special lecture with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk.

While in-person registration is now closed, registration remains open for online participation via Zoom.

In “Defending Human Rights in Times of War,” Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, will discuss human rights, international crimes, and accountability in Ukraine.

The lecture will be chaired and moderated by Jesper Roine, Deputy Director at the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and Adjunct Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics.

📅 Today, September 18
🕑 14:00–15:00
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Registration required

The event is organized by SITE together with the Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden.

➡️ Register for online participation and join the conversation from wherever you are: https://hhs-se.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IRsswrovQz2tfDoXaWoRug #/registration

💡Learn more about the event: https://www.hhs.se/events/site-external-events/2026/matviichuk-human-rights/

16/09/2026

📢 SITE Awarded SI Funding for Moldova EU Training Program

The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) has been awarded funding from the Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet) to develop and deliver Democratic European Accession Negotiations (DEAN), a new training program supporting Moldova’s capacity to negotiate EU accession and future trade arrangements.

The program will bring together civil servants, diplomats and business representatives from Moldova for research-based training, peer learning and international exchange. Participants will strengthen their practical negotiation skills, expand professional networks and build capacity for the complex negotiations connected to European integration.

The project will include contributions from Andrew Schenkel, Assistant Professor in the Department of Management and Organization at the Stockholm School of Economics, and Per Hedberg, Research Fellow in the Department of Marketing and Strategy and Affiliated Researcher at the House of Governance and Public Policy.

Together, they will bring research-based perspectives on negotiation and inclusive decision-making into the program, supporting participants as they prepare for the complex negotiations associated with Moldova’s European integration.

➡️ Read the full article to learn more: https://www.hhs.se/news/site-publications/2026/site-awarded-si-funding-moldova-eu-training-program/