How Should the Reconstruction of Ukraine Be Financed and Organized? • FREE NETWORK

Did you miss the chance to attend the book launch event “Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and Policies” presented by Torbjörn Becker, Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Veronika Movchan on 11 January? Watch the recordings to learn more about their framework for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction co-written together with leading scholars and experts.

On Wednesday, 11 January, 2023, Torbjörn Becker, Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Veronika Movchan presented their framework for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction from their book “Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and policies” at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE). This event was co-organized together with the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).

About the Book

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of what Ukraine should become after the war and what tools policymakers can use to fulfill these goals. It provides perspectives from leading scholars and practitioners: each chapter of the book covers a specific sector, but there is a natural overlap across the chapters because Ukraine’s reconstruction should be a comprehensive transformation of the country. With such a complex task, it is important to have a clear vision of the goals. The leitmotif of this book is clear: reconstruction is not about rebuilding Ukraine to the pre-war state, it is about a deep modernization of the country. All critical elements of the economy and society will have to leapfrog and undergo reforms to help Ukraine escape the post-Soviet legacy and become a full-fledged democracy with a modern economy, strong institutions, and a powerful defence sector.

The book repeatedly emphasizes that allies’ aid will be absolutely essential but, to make the reconstruction a true success story, Ukraine’s future should be decided by the Ukrainian people: Ukrainians should own this process. The State is no longer some hostile and alien construct which is there to repress them: people are starting to realize that they need to own it, i.e., protect their rights and fulfill their responsibilities as citizens. Building on the wave of patriotism, establishing mechanisms for genuine citizen participation will help prolong national unity and volunteer enthusiasm of Ukrainians beyond the war, but more importantly, it will ensure the democratic development of the country.

List of Participants

Beatrice Weder di Mauro (President at Centre for Economic Policy Research, Professor of International Economics at Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies)
Torbjörn Becker (Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics, SITE)
Veronika Movchan (Research Director at Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting)
Moderator: Anders Olofsgård (Deputy director of SITE)