This initiative aims to train a new generation of students and researchers to investigate the complex and largely unexplored story of Ukraine’s economic development. It focuses on the history of resource distribution, economic development, social inequality, and sustainability in Ukraine, as well as historical polities that formerly included the territories of modern Ukraine, for example, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires, and the USSR.

Sustainable economic development has been one of the national strategic goals in Ukraine. Decision makers have tried to solve this challenging task since Ukraine became an independent country. However, the problem remains relevant. We believe that economic history as a discipline at the intersection of economics, history, political science, business, and managerial studies can contribute the solution of the problem. Relying on Ukrainian and international expertise, economic historians can contribute to a better understanding of institutional constraints and opportunities in economic development and the sustainable use of resources. Therefore, the proposed initiative aims to bridge the world of ideas about sustainable economic development and the world of public affairs that promotes effective action.

Economic historians of Ukraine have been weakly integrated into international scholarship, and rarely involved in the discussion of global problems such as economic and social inequality, conflicts over resources, and climate changes. Consequently, we aim to foster collaboration among economic historians in Ukraine who share a global perspective, and to promote their involvement in the international scholarly community.

To achieve its goal, the initiative intends to:

• Challenge, support and assist each other in developing successful and high-quality research and professional practice.
• Organize quarterly seminars and a biannual conference at the UCU.
• Encourage the active engagement of early career researchers with the wider economic history community
• Establish connections with economic and social theorists to learn about contemporary issues and help address their research questions with the use of historical data.
• Share ideas and information, particularly relevant to early career researchers especially through our FB page @econhistory.
• Establish a collection of books on economic history at the UCU library.
• Support research projects on relevant topics.

If you are interested in joining the Economic History Initiative, please write to [email protected] with the following information: Name, Institution (if any), e-mail address, thematic focus/interest, your ideas/suggested contribution, etc.