RESEARCH FOR UKRAINE AND BEYOND
KSE Institute is the think tank of the Kyiv School of Economics. We research economic and public policy, providing analysis and practical recommendations to policymakers in Ukraine and abroad.
Our expertise spans economic policy, public finance, sanctions, energy, defence, investment, and recovery. Working in Ukraine through Russia’s full-scale invasion has given our researchers first-hand insight into how war affects economies, businesses, and public institutions. That experience informs our work on questions that matter well beyond Ukraine: economic security, sanctions, and how countries rebuild after war.
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2005KSE/EERC and the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) founded the Kyiv Economics Institute (KEI).
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2015KEI became a department of the Kyiv School of Economics.
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2019KEI was renamed KSE Institute. It opened two new research centres, the Center for Public Finance and Governance and the Center for Food and Land Use Research, alongside the Centre of Excellence in Procurement, which had been operating since 2016.
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2021KSE Institute had 13 research centres and 44 experts.
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2022Russia’s full-scale invasion was a turning point. The Institute redirected its research to support Ukraine’s government, launching Russia Will Pay to document war damage and SelfSanctions/LeaveRussia to track foreign companies in Russia. It also began providing analytical support to the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions.
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2026KSE Institute brings together more than 160 experts and works across a growing range of fields, from investment to the defence industry. It has completed more than 100 research and consulting projects.
Our expertise
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ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS
We combine economic analysis, quantitative methods, and modelling to forecast trends, measure risks, and evaluate the effects of policy decisions. Our work covers macroeconomics, public finance, energy markets, and financial stability.
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PUBLIC POLICY AND REFORM
We study how public policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated. Our expertise covers public administration, procurement, European integration, education, and healthcare, with a focus on stronger institutions and more effective public programmes.
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MARKETS, INDUSTRY, AND INVESTMENT
Our research covers market conditions, investment opportunities, and industrial development in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and defence. We identify financing needs, production constraints, regulatory barriers, and the risks facing businesses and investors.
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SANCTIONS AND GEOECONOMICS
Our research on Russia’s economy focuses on trade flows, energy exports, and sanctions evasion. We measure how sanctions affect Russia’s revenues, track their enforcement, and identify the gaps that allow evasion.
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WAR DAMAGE AND RECOVERY
We estimate the damage and economic losses caused by Russia’s war, calculate reconstruction needs, and explore options for financing recovery. Our work links detailed damage assessments with broader economic analysis and long-term recovery planning.
Key Achievements
INFORMING SANCTIONS POLICY
We work directly with the governments that design and enforce sanctions against Russia. Our research on Russian oil revenues, the shadow fleet, and sanctions evasion has informed decisions in the EU, the UK, and the US, and we have briefed the US Congress, the Bundestag, and the European Commission. We also co-organise the Kyiv Sanctions Forum, which in 2026 brought together 22 countries and the EU.
SHAPING ECONOMIC POLICY AND REFORM
We helped develop the Ukraine Facility Plan, building three macro-financial models with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Bank of Ukraine. Our work has also supported public finance and procurement reforms, public investment management, and Ukraine’s preparations for EU membership.
SUPPORTING RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION
Our research has contributed to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessments (RDNA) prepared by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank, the European Commission, and the United Nations. Since 2022, we have supported the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference with economic analysis and investment proposals.
ADVANCING INVESTMENT AND ACCESS TO FINANCE
Our Center for Development Finance and Investment connects investors, businesses, and government to bring capital into Ukraine. It has advised more than 700 Ukrainian and 100 foreign companies, organised over 50 international business events, and publishes the Ukraine Investment Catalogue and the Energy Investment Guide.
CONTRIBUTING TO INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENTS
International institutions, including the OECD and the World Bank, use our research and data in their assessments of Ukraine. We contributed analysis to the OECD’s agricultural policy monitoring and provided economic estimates for its Economic Survey of Ukraine.
BUILDING PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY
We run practical training for civil servants, local authorities, and businesses. As of August 2026, 2,151 professionals from 22 regions had completed in-person training under I_CAN, a national programme on managing internationally financed projects. Our Center of Excellence in Procurement has trained specialists from more than 100 public and private organisations
WORKING WITH KSE INSTITUTE
We collaborate with governments, international organisations, research institutions, and businesses on projects ranging from targeted studies to long-term research and advisory programmes.
Our projects have been supported by the European Union, the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark, the World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, the International Renaissance Foundation, and other partners.