WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Maksym Chepeliev began his career focusing on global trade and a path to alternative energy when environmental concerns dominated the conversation. In February, Russia invaded his home country of Ukraine and his life changed. His work and expertise took on new importance, informing energy sanctions and the potential economic impacts of war.

Chepeliev, a research economist at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, spoke to the European Parliament and co-author of world Bank report “The impact of the war in Ukraine on world trade and investment.”

“One, we want this terrible war to end, and Russian energy exports are under pressure,” Purdue’s fellow Chepeliev said. Global Trade Analysis Center. “But we need to consider the economic impact across the world of energy sanctions and continued war. This is where our research and that of others is needed to show what steps can be taken to protect economies and people most vulnerable to disruption.

Chepeliev co-authored with colleagues at the World Bank a VoxEU article based on his contributions to the report entitled “Importers of agricultural and energy products from developing countries are the hardest hit by the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine.” He also contributed to a previous World Bank report, “Brave the stormsin which he assessed the potential impacts of the war in Ukraine on countries in East Asia and the Pacific region.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is disrupting the world’s supply of oil, gas, wheat, corn, fertilizer, sunflower oil and other essentials,” he said. “We looked at trade, supply chains and income across the world. While all consumers will be worse off because of the war, developing countries and the poorest people will be hardest hit. It is very important to identify who is most vulnerable and to come up with policies and measures that can be taken to protect them.

In March, Chepeliev co-authored the article “Cutting Russia’s Fossil Fuel Exports: Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gainwith Purdue professors Thomas Hertel, emeritus professor of agricultural economics, and Dominique van der Mensbrugghe, research professor and director of the Center for Global Trade Analysis, or GTAP.

Luis Garicano, an economist and member of the European Parliament, asked Chepeliev to join a panel addressing the European Parliament ahead of the vote on a resolution to ban energy imports from Russia. His research and visit are featured in this Purdue Agricultural Economics podcast.

“There are economic mechanisms that can facilitate transitions like this and make them manageable,” Chepeliev said. “Through our research, we have shown the potential steps that can be taken to implement a ban on energy imports from Russia, while incorporating substitute suppliers and alternative energy sources to reduce the shock. on the economy.”

The assessment also showed the potential long-term benefits of switching to renewable and alternative fuels, which is an extension of his previous career research and environmental energy expertise.

“We have found that with increasing fuel prices, the shares of solar and wind power increase, leading to reduced air pollutant emissions,” he said. “Air pollution is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the European Union. Additionally, these changes would support the achievement of the mitigation goals that have been set to reduce greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030. It will be difficult, but there are long-term benefits.

Chepeliev contributes to the development of the widely used system GTAP Database, which the team used for its analysis of energy interdictions and other assessment projects related to the war in Ukraine. It also develops other non-war related databases that focus on energy, agriculture, air pollution, nutrition and circular economy.

“I want to combine these databases with policy-relevant work to help those making decisions that impact our world,” he said. “My experience presenting to the European Parliament and other decision makers is an example of the role academic researchers can play.”

Writer: Elizabeth K. Gardner; 765-441-2024; [email protected]

Source: Maksym Chepeliev; [email protected]

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Maureen Manier, Head of Department, [email protected]

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