Marshall Plan Research Articles

German-Speaking Émigré Economists in Great Britain and the Analysis of the German War Economy

Abstract The need for analysis of the German war economy became urgent after the defeat of France and the threat of an invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany after the battle of Dunkirk in the summer of 1940. The expertise of émigré scholars now was in strong demand. First, this essay discusses the series of twelve articles that Hans Singer contributed at the request of Keynes to the Economic Journal from 1940 to 1944. An important characteristic of war economies is a shortage of consumer goods, which raises the question of the appropriate rationing scheme. Therefore, the notion of a virtual price system, introduced by Erwin Rothbarth, which takes note of the welfare consequences of interventions into the free choices of consumers, is the focus of the next section. Hal C. Hillmann was a leading analyst of the German war economy, the comparative strength of the great powers, and postwar reconstruction. Finally, the article discusses the role of Nicholas Kaldor, who had firsthand knowledge as a key member of the research team of highbrow economists chaired by John Kenneth Galbraith that at the end of the war studied the effects of Allied bombing on the German war economy. Kaldor's experience, also as the director of the Research and Planning Division of the UN Economic Commission for Europe from 1947 to 1949, significantly influenced his pioneering contributions to growth theory.

Book review: Media ruins: Cambodian postwar media reconstruction and the geopolitics of technology

Book review: Media ruins: Cambodian postwar media reconstruction and the geopolitics of technology

Dynamic clustering of Asian regionalisms: Empirical testing of United Nations multilateral treaty participation by social network analysis

This paper investigates the evolving clustering and historical progression of “Asian regionalisms” concerning their involvement in multilateral treaties deposited in the United Nations system. We employ criteria such as geographic proximity, historical connections, cultural affinities, and economic interdependencies to identify twenty-eight candidate countries from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia for this empirical testing. Using a social network analysis approach, we model the network of these twenty-eight Asian state actors alongside 600 major treaties from the United Nations system, identifying clusters among Asian states by assessing similarities in their treaty participation behavior. Specifically, we observe dynamic changes in these clusters across three key historical eras: Post-war reconstruction and transformation (1945–1968), Cold War tensions and global transformations (1969–1989), and post-Cold War era and globalization (1990–present). Employing the Louvain cluster detection algorithm, the results reveal the evolution in cluster numbers and changes in membership status throughout the world timeline. The results also identify the current situation of six distinct Asian clusters based on states’ inclinations to engage or abstain from multilateral treaties across six policy domains. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the trajectories of Asian regionalisms amidst evolving global dynamics and offer insights into potential alliances, cooperation, or conflicts within the region.

Post-war reconstruction of Ukraine: analysis of individual program principles

Post-war reconstruction of Ukraine: analysis of individual program principles

Organised Spinozism in the Netherlands (1897–2022): Growth, Flourishing, Decay and Revival

This paper gives an outline of the history of organised Spinozism in the Netherlands, divided into three periods. In 1897 the Vereniging het Spinozahuis (VHS) was established. On the one hand, it wanted to preserve the physical and spiritual heritage of Spinoza, being an essential part of Dutch identity, and on the other hand, it strived for the propagation of Spinozism, which might fill the void left by the end of Christianity. This double aim precluded the transformation of the VHS into an international society to disseminate Spinozism. To that end the Societas Spinozana was established in 1920. It had to contribute to the solution of the spiritual crisis created by the WWI which had divided humanity. By the time of National-Socialism and during the post-war reconstruction period, in which philosophies incompatible with Spinozism dominated, the VHS successfully returned to the initial aim of preserving Spinoza’s heritage, but in the 1970s Spinozism once more became a viable alternative to traditional religion.

Інституційний простір сфери оплати праці.

The problem of adequate performance of economic and social functions of labor remuneration and its compliance with the criteria of decent work is extremely relevant for Ukraine. The problem cannot be solved only by adjusting the existing and adopting new normative legal acts of labor law, since the corresponding legislative amendments must be accepted by the key parties to social and labor relations. The purpose of the article is to investigate the institutional environment in the field of labor remuneration in Ukraine in its various manifestations, to identify the most common institutional constructions, structures and practices that need correction and should become a priority object of state policy. The research was conducted using the methods of desk study. In the absence of official statistical data on the labor market and wages, indirect assessment methods were used based on available administrative data, materials of international organizations, results of sociological surveys, etc. The authors abandoned the traditional identification of institutions exclusively with formal organizations, which are mainly created by the government. The novelty is provided by the study of widespread informal institutional structures and practices, their main manifestations and socio-economic consequences. he study revealed that due to the low efficiency of controlling and punitive instruments of state regulation, several informal and implicit institutional structures have taken root in the institutional environment of the sphere of labor remuneration in addition to or instead of formal norms and rules, in particular, the shadowing of labor remuneration, labor remuneration based on individual agreements, unpaid overtime work, fictitious individual entrepreneurs, etc. Manifestations, main causes and consequences of the spread of informal practices are analysed. The impact of the full-scale military aggression against Ukraine on the labor market and labor force patterns in terms of working conditions and wages is assessed, and the risk of deepening shortage of workers for the needs of the post-war reconstruction is emphasized. The role of the government as the largest employer and the main transformations of the wage institution in the public sector are revealed. Conclusions have been made regarding the priority functions of the state in the sphere of wages, based on the need to ensure the resilience of the national economy.

The Russian War against Ukraine: a case study in climate, conflict, and green recovery

The Russian war against Ukraine, having brought monumental social, economic, and environmental devastation, serves as a compelling case study demonstrating the broader implications of climate crises, underscoring the complex interplay between fossil fuel dependency and geopolitical tensions, and illustrating that the fight for climate justice and the fight for peace are deeply interconnected. Meanwhile, Ukraine has the potential to leverage post-war reconstruction as an unprecedented opportunity for comprehensive decarbonisation and ecological recovery. Examining the limitations of the international climate change regime and exploring controversial aspects of fossil fuel production, this paper highlights the hidden climate costs of war, and investigates the concept of ‘climate change as a battle’ and how it can frame the global discourse on climate security and climate justice. It argues that addressing climate change is akin to fighting a war, requiring mobilisation of resources, political will, and international solidarity. In this context, Ukraine’s experience offers valuable lessons for the global community as it navigates the complex challenges of post-conflict recovery while simultaneously addressing the urgent need for climate action. With the right assistance, Ukraine could emerge as a front-runner in the global energy transition, inspiring other nations to pursue ambitious climate action even in the face of adversity.

Achieving European Union strategic autonomy: circularity in critical raw materials value chains

Abstract Why is it important to understand the potential of circular economy for security? With the green transition in full swing and vulnerabilities in value chains as a consequence of the COVID–19 pandemic and Russian aggression towards Ukraine, this question has never been more timely. Titanium metal constitutes a poignant case, as it is a critical raw material essential for the strategic civil aerospace and defence sectors. In addition, circular economy solutions constitute a viable solution to mitigate import dependencies in the case of this particular raw material. The European Union, with one of the largest aviation industries globally, is dependent on titanium imports from Russia and the United States. The latter, in turn, (re)imports titanium scrap from EU aviation manufacturing to increase material efficiency and reduce costs through recycling. Based on extensive stakeholder interviews across several countries and quantitative trade data, this article presents a first-time analysis of how, in the case of the titanium value chain, circular economy solutions can support the EU Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) objectives, as enshrined in the 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act. We suggest that in order for the EU to achieve both the OSA and decarbonization objectives, it is essential to prioritize the establishment of recycling facilities as part of reshoring of the mid-value titanium industry. With the prospect of Ukraine becoming an EU member state, this strategy could be complemented by investments into the decarbonization of the upstream value chain in Ukraine while meshing it further with the EU industrial base. We argue that such reshoring could be best achieved through careful intergovernmental and industrial negotiations between the US and EU stakeholders within the formerly established channels for aviation dispute resolutions and within the framework of Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and potential EU accession.

Фінансові перешкоди впровадженню теплових насосів в централізованому теплопостачанні

The use of powerful industrial heat pumps (HP) is a fairly effective means of rational and environmentally friendly use of energy resources both in individual households and in district heating (DH), as well as in production processes in various industries. Powerful HPs are used in Ukraine much less than in developed European countries. In fact, these are isolated cases. The post-war reconstruction of destroyed cities with their district heating systems gives Ukraine a unique chance to use modern energy-efficient technologies, including HP. As a result, efficiency will improve and DH competitiveness will increase due to the low cost of thermal energy for consumers. Almost all developed countries of the world have government financial support for the HP implementation. The purpose of this study is to determine the level and form of government financial support for projects to implement HP in DHs of Ukraine. Financial modeling of the implementation of heat pump plants shown that they are more expediently to be used in the mode of generating thermal energy than in the mode of regulating the electric load of power systems. It is shown that the projects of heat pump plants, which use the heat of flue gases as a source of low-potential heat (LPH), are the most economically attractive and practically do not require government financial support. Projects of heat pump plants, which use air, ventilation emissions, waste water, soil and groundwater, sea, rivers, and waste heat of technological processes as LPH, are not financially attractive without government financial support, and some of them are even unprofitable. The most appropriate comprehensive financial support is tax incentives and interest compensation on the loan. Sensitivity analysis showed that projects for the implementation of heat pump plants may be the most sensitive to the amount of generated thermal energy, the price of natural gas and electricity. Keywords: heat pumps, low-potential heat sources, district heating, financial obstacles, tax incentives, grants.

Risk Management Strategies of Urban Planning Projects in the Framework of Post-War Reconstruction

Risk Management Strategies of Urban Planning Projects in the Framework of Post-War Reconstruction

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE CONCEPT OF GREEN RECONSTRUCTION OF ECONOMY

The article defined the concept of waste management in the environmental management system. The research analysed the problems of waste management in the environmental management system from point of view by a number of domestic and foreign scientists. As a result, authors outlined the basic components of waste management: strategic planning, prevention of environmental pollution, conservation of resources, minimization of the amount and toxicity of waste generation, choosing the best prevention option, assessment of effects and consequences, decision-making. The research described the system of green reconstruction of economy and formed the basic principles of the green post-war reconstruction that would provide sustainable economic development. The article outlined the concept of post-war green reconstruction which should focus on such areas as: sustainable construction and resource saving; implementation of renewable energy sources; sustainable development of infrastructure; implementation of a waste management system, minimization of residues. The authors grounded five main stages of waste management process under post-war reconstruction of Ukraine: prevention of waste generation, preparation for reuse, processing, other uses, disposal. Sustainable waste management solutions are essential to maintain environmental harmony but, also, they are linked with cost, public response, political constraints, and social norms. Consumers' environmental awareness influence the demand for goods and services and thus reduce the amount of waste. Research argued that local communities should developed own waste prevention strategies and attract environmentally conscious businesses to their territory. State policy should focus consumers for preferring products in packaging/container that is suitable for recycling or reuse (glass), paper bags, eco-bags, used appliances.

Science parks: analysis of international experience and development prospects in Ukraine

The object of the research is the issues related to the creation of science parks in Ukraine at a new level in the process of its post-war reconstruction. In this paper, the main focus is on the analysis of the very concept of «science park» and the experience of some international ones, which are most suitable for the domestic plans for the transformation of the Ukrainian economy and its social infrastructure. Also researched the initiative of the Kharkiv city government to create the so-called «science quarter», which would absorb all the best that exists in the world in the field of science parks, and would have its own «highlight». As a result of this study, it was established that the creation and functioning of science parks is an important component of the modern world economy, which should be given serious attention in the process of post-war transformation of the Ukrainian economy. Moreover, the process of developing a strategy for the construction of such science parks should be started now, without waiting for the end of the war. A good example of this is the start of work on the project to create a science park in Kharkiv called «Science Quarter» as part of the development of a city recovery plan with the help of specialists from various international organizations, universities, banks and funds. The article analyses the activities of some similar science parks in Poland, which can be used as a guide in this process, and provides recommendations for the improvement and enhancement of certain basic elements of the future Kharkiv science park. As a result, it was concluded that thanks to the hard work of the city authorities with the support of international institutions, active work is being done to develop a city reconstruction strategy at a fundamentally new level in Kharkiv, within which a significant place is given to the implementation of the «Science Quarter» project. The success of the latter will depend not only on the experienced team of specialists implementing this project and the receipt of the necessary funding, but also, first of all, on the success of our defenders in repelling russian aggression.

THE IMPLICITY OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSPARENCY OF BANK LENDING TO THE REAL SECTOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: WORLD EXPERIENCE

The modern development of the global economy is associated with multiple transformational challenges that raise the issue of ensuring an appropriate level of mutual trust between banking and industrial businesses. This issue is especially relevant for Ukraine, which is facing a crucial task - the post-war reconstruction of the national economy on the basis of sustainability, integrity and environmental friendliness. The aim of the paper is to identify implicit links between the transparency of bank lending to the real sector and economic development over the past 15 years in twelve countries, including Ukraine. This study is based on the correlation and regression tools for analysing relationships. As a result, the article confirms the hypothesis of the existence of significant cause-and-effect relationships between improving banking transparency, reducing corruption, growing economic freedom, increasing lending to the real sector and ensuring economic growth for a number of countries, regardless of their level of economic development. It has been found that in countries with steadily high corruption and economic freedom perception indices, the significance of the correlation with the development of bank lending to the real sector is lost. The reasons for deviations from the natural dialectic of the studied relationships are revealed in the example of India and Turkey. The peculiarities of their formation, preconditions and prospects for strengthening in Ukraine are highlighted. The contribution of the National Bank of Ukraine to increasing the level of transparency of lending activities of second-tier banks is investigated.

THEORETICAL ASPECTS AND ESSENTIAL DEFINITIONS OF REGIONAL ECONOMY STATE REGULATION IN MACROECONOMIC INSTABILITY CONTEXT

Objective. The objective of the article is to analyze and systematize the theoretical aspects and essential definitions of state regulation of the economy of regions in the context of macroeconomic instability, as well as to determine the basic principles of effective management of regional policy in the context of macroeconomic instability. Methods. The following methods are applied to conduct the research: the analysis method (to study the theoretical aspects and determine the essential definitions of the state regulation of the economy of the regions), the induction method (to highlight the areas of application of methodological approaches to the assessment of the effective management of regional policy in conditions of macroeconomic instability and to define key concepts which are based on scientific approaches to the state regulation of the economy of regions in conditions of macroeconomic instability) and a graphic method (for building a refined scheme of the components of macroeconomic instability of regions and expanding the directions for overcoming them). Results. Macroeconomic instability is characterized by significant fluctuations in key macroeconomic indicators which may be caused by internal and external economic, political, and social factors. Macroeconomic instability affects regional development due to reduced investment, reduced budget revenues, increased unemployment and social tension. In order to achieve socio-economic stability and successful development of the region, state regulation should ensure successful overcoming of macroeconomic instability by forecasting crisis phenomena, preventing them and creating reserves in advance to eliminate their consequences. The key factor is the definition and consideration of all components of macroeconomic instability. The proposed sixth component of regional macroeconomic instability - military instability - requires the development of comprehensive security strategies, including strengthening the country's defense capabilities, providing social and economic support for affected regions as well as active international cooperation for post-war reconstruction, maintaining peace and stability. It is also important to deal with issues of reintegration of the affected territories and population, restoration of infrastructure and economic activity in conflict zones.

Reflection of changes in post-war architecture and town planning of Kharkiv in periodical specialist publications

The article provides a historiographical overview of publications about the architecture and construction of Kharkov in professional architectural journals of Ukraine during the period of post-war reconstruction (1947-1955) and during the transition period of “changes in the artistic direction of Soviet architecture.” The article contains a description of the views and positions of Kharkov architects on current architectural and urban planning issues. This period of development of Kharkiv architecture and urban planning is fundamentally conceptually and stylistically heterogeneous. Accordingly, around the middle of the 1950s, the nature of the content and tone of the publications changed significantly. This is due to ideological and political transformations in the country as a whole, and in particular radical changes in the "ideological and creative direction" of Soviet architecture. The topics of the publications of Kharkiv architects considered in this article cover a wide range from the main provisions of the General Plans of the city to a critical examination of the features of specific buildings, as well as the problems of professional training of architects. The authors of the researched publications are architects-designers, construction engineers, officials, including the main architects of the city at that time, teachers of architectural universities. The beginning of the researched period is the post-war reconstruction of Kharkiv, the publications of the first post-war decade reflect the current architectural and urban planning practice, the prospects for the implementation of various aspects of the first master plan for the development of the city. Literary sources of the mid-1950s fully reflect the turn in the direction of the development of architecture on the example of Kharkov. Professional magazines pay more attention not to architectural activity, but to construction problems. The change in the name of the magazine indirectly indicates the beginning of a change in attitude towards the profession of an architect. The final part of this article will be published later; it covers publications during the transition to industrial construction of the 1960s - early 1970s.

General content and main objectives of the research of professional-public interaction in the post-war reconstruction of Beirut

The readers are offered the third in a series of publications dedicated to the interaction between the cultural community, urban planning specialists, city and state authorities during the reconstruction of the Lebanese capital Beirut after the civil war of 1975-1990. The example of Beirut is the most important historical precedent, on which, in particular, the development of a general strategy for promoting the revival of the destroyed cities of the Arab world can be oriented. Beirut has a number of features common to almost every major Arab city, including ethnic fragmentation and economic diversity, political divisions that are sharp to the point of antagonism, and multi-denominationalism. For the first time in modern history, the reconstruction of Beirut was carried out under the strong influence of civil society and its organizations, and not only political parties, but also non-governmental organizations (so-called third sector organizations), as well as new target groups, movements and currents. The story of Beirut's post-war reconstruction and civil influence on it can be seen as a unique example of a long-lasting and quite fruitful participation program. Studying the genesis of such large-scale, multi-professional and multi-purpose public participation could be the key to developing organic and effective approaches to large cities in various regions affected by the consequences of wars, civil conflicts or natural disasters. The methodology of such research should be based on the reconstruction of the chronological sequence (timeline) of key events during the post-war reconstruction of the Lebanese capital. On this schedule, it is necessary to pay special attention to situations of intervention of public organizations and/or the third sector in the processes of implementation of design and construction, distinguishing at the same time the modes (stages) of preparation and implementation of influence. The general goal of this research is to reveal the content, mechanisms of implementation and stages of deployment multifaceted processes of discovering and preserving the rich historical heritage of Beirut, which took place in a constant dialogue between specialists of various professions, scientists and public activists. The purpose of this publication is to build a work plan of the research, define its specific components and characterize the expected scientific and practical results.

Strengths and opportunities for improvement in surgical education in Ukraine: A qualitative study.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 has significantly impacted the country's healthcare system including surgical education. To assess the current state and identify the strengths and opportunities for the improvement of Ukraine's surgical education system during the peri-war period, this study is one of the first to explore the state of surgical education across Ukraine in peri-war, providing essential insights for current and postwar healthcare reconstruction. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 24 Ukrainian surgical residents, surgeons, and program leadership from various regions. The study focused on clinical training, didactics, mentorship, autonomy, resident evaluation, the impact of war, and gender disparities in surgical education. Data analysis was conducted using a rapid qualitative analysis technique. Interviews revealed strengths in surgical education such as adaptability to war conditions and international collaborations. However, opportunities for improvement were identified including a lack of structured clinical and didactic experiences, limited autonomy and access to simulators, gender discrimination, and war-time challenges. These issues highlight a need for more comprehensive training and support systems for surgical trainees in Ukraine. The study underscores the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian surgical education in the face of war while also emphasizing the need for significant improvements. It calls for implementing structured training programs, enhanced mentorship, and attention to gender equality. These findings are crucial for improving surgical education in Ukraine and can be used as an example for other lower-middle-income countries, especially in conflict settings.

The European Green Deal and prospects for Ukraine

In January 2020, the European Union launched the European Green Deal, a comprehensive programme for the transition to new environmental standards in all sectors of the economy with the aim of making Europe the first carbon-neutral continent. Given Ukraine's European ambitions, it is important for it to understand the requirements of the Green Deal and assess the possibilities of taking these requirements into account in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Purpose. To examine the requirements and current achievements in the implementation of the European Green Deal with a view to the prospects of Ukraine's post-war recovery. Results. Based on the EU regulations, current thematic reports, statistics and other open-source publications, the article analyses the main components of the European Green Deal in the context of plans and current achievements in their implementation in the following areas: legislative support, emissions trading system, carbon emissions regulation mechanism at the EU border, transport, energy, construction, agriculture and land use, ecosystem and biodiversity restoration, financial support of the green transition, science and education. Some promising directions of post-war recovery of Ukraine in the context of the Green Deal are considered. Conclusions. Despite the harsh criticism of the European Green Deal, it is vital to overcome the most acute environmental crisis in history, which threatens sustainable development and possibly the very existence of humanity. During the first 3 years of the Green Deal implementation, significant progress has already been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, although there are still some difficulties and obstacles. Ukraine has a significant potential for post-war restoration of the energy and industry sector in line with environmental requirements, but this will require significant investments.

ЕКОЛОГО-ЕКОНОМІЧНІ ЗАСАДИ УПРАВЛІННЯ РИЗИКАМИ ПРОЄКТІВ РОЗВИТКУ «ЗЕЛЕНОГО» ЖИТЛОВОГО БУДІВНИЦТВА В СИСТЕМІ ЦІННОСТЕЙ ЦИРКУЛЯРНОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ

The article presents the results of a bibliometric analysis of studies on risk management of “green” building development projects in the value system of the circular economy and a brief overview of the most cited publications on this issue. Using VOSviewer software and metadata from the Scopus database, two bibliometric maps of the most frequently used terms were constructed, each of which includes 28 key terms that were used at least five times: the first – in publications on risk management in “green” building, represents three related clusters; the second – in publications related to “green” building and circular economy, represents four clusters. The leaders in the number of studies on risk management of “green” building development projects in the value system of the circular economy were identified among countries, organizations and authors. Ukrainian scientists have not yet published any publications on risk management in “green” building indexed in Scopus. This indicates the existence of gaps and points to the need to intensify research, particularly in the context of “green” post-war reconstruction. The results of clustering and analysis of documents by fields of knowledge indicate the interdisciplinary nature of research on risk management in “green” building, which is most often at the intersection of engineering, management, and environmental sciences. The formed bibliometric landscape and theoretical provisions regarding the risks of “green” building and their factors, new methods and models for assessing these risks, as well as the interrelationships of “green” building and the circular economy are a theoretical platform for the ecological and economic foundations of risk management of projects for the development of “green” housing building in rural and urban areas in the value system of the circular economy.

The Crime of Ecocide through Human Rights Approach

The environment is often called the “silent victim of war” – the case is not different in the Russo–Ukrainian armed conflict. Since 2014, nature − home to 35% of European biodiversity and varied natural habitats − has suffered a tremendous loss in Ukraine. The war has been responsible for the emission of 33 m tonnes of CO2 , and postwar reconstruction is estimated to generate even more. Additional environmental concerns include extensive pollution, degradation of natural habitats, and species extinction. Regarding the new data, more than 2 thousand events can be considered ecocide. Ecocide is the destruction of the natural environment by deliberate or negligent human action. Transboundary environmental harm is also a pressing issue, as pollution “travels” by wind, air, and water to other countries. Ecocide is a new yet old concept concerning severe environmental destruction. In the last decade, a debate has emerged concerning legislation, definition and enforcement. Instead of international criminal law, many believe that the solution will be the human rights approach. Meanwhile, the right to a healthy environment, initially not included in “traditional” human rights conventions, is getting more attention worldwide and in Europe. Recently, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted an own-initiative opinion on the right to a healthy environment in the EU in the context of the war. The aim is to criminalise Russia’s actions under European law and ensure environmental protection to safeguard fundamental rights. In the paper, the author would like to focus on the parallel development of the right to a healthy environment and ecocide.