|   | | | | SITE August 2025 Newsletter
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| | | | In this August edition of the SITE Newsletter, we return from the summer break to share timely developments and updates from July and August.
We begin by welcoming two new faculty members—Anastasiia Arbuzova and Olle Folke—who bring valuable expertise to SITE's growing academic network.
This issue revisits the question of sanctions on Russia—are they finally working, and how can enforcement improve? SITE Director Torbjörn Becker joins PIIE experts in a webinar discussion on Russia's economy and Ukraine reconstruction, while recent media interviews with Becker and Maria Perrotta Berlin highlight growing economic pressure inside Russia.
This month's Editor's Choice focuses on the EU's 18th sanctions package, aimed at cutting off funding for Russia's war.
We also share the latest SITE in the media highlights and a preview of upcoming SITE and FREE Network events this autumn.
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| NEW FACULTY
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 | | From left: Anastasiia Arbuzova and Olle Folke |
| | SITE Welcomes New Faculty Members: Anastasiia Arbuzova and Olle Folke |
| | To mark their arrival, we interviewed both Anastasiia and Olle about their academic backgrounds, research interests, and what they look forward to during their time at the Stockholm Institute of Transiton Economics (SITE). |
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| | NEW SANCTIONS WEB PORTAL |
 | | Photo: Shutterstock |
| How Effective Are Current Sanctions On Russia — And How Can Enforcement Be Strengthened?
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| | On June 18, 2025, SITE, supported by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, hosted a high-level public seminar exploring the evolving landscape of international sanctions on Russia. This seminar also marked the official launch of SITE's new Sanctions Web Portal—an open-access platform offering data, analysis, and resources for policymakers, journalists, and researchers. The full recording is now available on SITE's YouTube channel. |
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| RUSSIA ECONOMY
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 | | Are Sanctions on Russia Finally Working? |
| | SITE Director Torbjörn Becker joined Cecilia Malmström (Peterson Institute for International Economics, PIIE) and Jacob Funk Kirkegaard (PIIE) to discuss Russia's economic downturn, Ukraine's security and reconstruction. |
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| INTERVIEW
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 | Photo of Maria Perrotta Berlin
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| Russia's Railway Crisis Signals Deeper Economic Trouble
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| | Russia's railway system is facing its sharpest downturn since 2008, with freight volumes declining for 20 consecutive months. According to Maria Perrotta Berlin, Assistant Professor at SITE, this trend offers rare insight into the state of Russia's war-strained economy. |
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| INTERVIEW
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 | Photo of Torbjörn Becker
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| Russia's Economy Falters-Time To Call Putin's Bluff
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| | As Russia's economy falters—with dwindling oil revenues, shrinking reserves, and a deepening deficit. In an interview with Svenska Dagbladet, Torbjörn Becker, Director of SITE, highlights the strategic implications: "It's time to call Putin's bluff. His strategy isn't as strong as he wants the world to believe." |
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| | EDITOR'S CHOICE |
 | | Photo: Shutterstock |
| | EU Adopts 18th Sanctions Package Against Russia to Cut War Funding |
| | The European Union has launched its 18th sanctions package against Russia to block billions in oil money and stop the country from sidestepping earlier penalties. This analysis highlights how the package closes loopholes in past sanctions and pushes back against Russia's attempts to fund its war in Ukraine through hidden trade and secret tankers. |
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| | | | Oct 14 | Swedish-Ukrainian Business Conference | |
| | | | Oct 20 | SITE Seminar with Jens Ewald | |
| | | | On Monday, October 20, Prof. Jens Ewald, University of Gothenburg, will present their working paper entitled "Shocking Electricity Prices and Carbon Tax Aversion" at SSE and online via Zoom. LEARN MORE >> | |
| | | | Nov 4 | SITE Seminar with Mounir Karadja | |
| | | | On Tuesday, November 4, Assistant Prof. Mounir Karadja (Uppsala University) will present their working paper entitled "Transnational Trauma: Mental Health Effects of War on Expatriates" at SSE and online via Zoom. LEARN MORE >> | |
| | | | Nov 12-13 | HROMADA Conference 2025 coming to SSE | |
| | | | The third HROMADA Conference is coming to Stockholm — and this year, it's hosted at the Stockholm School of Economics, co-organized by SITE. LEARN MORE >> | |
| | | | Nov 26 | SITE Seminar with Christian Ochsner | |
| | | | On Wednesday, November 26, Prof. Christian Ochsner, CERGE-EI, will present their working paper at SSE and online via Zoom. MORE INFO TBA! | |
| | | | Nov 28 | FREECE 2025 Workshop | |
| | | | Dec 5 | SITE 2025 Development Day Conference | |
| | | | N/A | FREE Network Academic Conference | |
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| | | | (Listed from oldest to most recent as of this month.) | |
| | | | "Soaring interest costs are taking a heavy toll on the Russian economy" / "Räntebergen slår hårt mot ryska ekonomin" (SvD Näringsliv)
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| | | | "The long and winding road: Two decades of antitrust enforcement in Spain" (JDSupra) | |
| | | | "Just securing the meeting would be a victory for Putin"/ "Bara att få till mötet vore en seger för Putin" (Svenska Dagbladet) | |
| | | | "How the sanctions against Russia work" / "Så fungerar sanktionerna mot Ryssland" (Sveriges Radio, P1) | |
| | | | "Russian economy faces strain as banks struggle with defense loans" (Sweden Herald") | |
| | | | "Russian war economy threatened by new banking crisis" / "Rysk krigsekonomi hotas av ny bankkris" (Tv4 Nyheterna) | |
| | | | "Expert: Russian banking crisis seen as a chance to pressure Putin" / "Expert: Rysk bankkris en chans att pressa Putin" (Dagens Industri) | |
| | | | "Russia is losing the battle for the economy" / "Ryssland förlorar kriget om ekonomin" (Dagens Industri) | |
| | | | "Russian gasoline prices at record levels" / "Ryska bensinpriser på rekordnivåer" (Dagens Industri) | |
| | | | "Russian gas keeps being supplied to the EU" / "Rysk gas fortsätter pumpas inom EU" (Dagens Nyheter) | |
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| | | | THANK YOU FOR READING
THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER
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Until then, see you in the next newsletter!
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