SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS OF NATIONAL CONSOLIDATION IN THE CONTEXT OF UKRAINE’S POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##

Published: Sep 11, 2026

  Nataliia Khoma

  Valerii Patalakha

Abstract

Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine has brought the complex and multidimensional issue of post-war reconstruction to the forefront, as it directly affects the level of national consolidation. There is an increasing demand for rigorous academic research into the factors that will influence social cohesion during periods of significant change. This study aims to identify the socio-economic factors influencing national consolidation in Ukraine during the post-war reconstruction phase and analyse their impact. The study focuses on the processes of national consolidation within the context of Ukraine’s post-war socioeconomic transformation. An interdisciplinary approach is adopted, combining elements of political science, sociology and economic analysis. Methods of theoretical generalisation, structural and logical analysis, and comparative and prospective analysis are employed to enable the systematisation of key socio-economic factors and the identification of the mechanisms through which they affect social cohesion. The findings reveal the main socio-economic factors of post-war reconstruction, including potential regional development disparities, socio-economic inequality, labour market transformation, the housing challenge, access to public services, demographic changes, the management of international assistance, and associated institutional risks. It has been established that these factors have an ambivalent nature of impact: they may either strengthen national consolidation by ensuring inclusiveness and social justice or weaken it by deepening social and regional disparities. The study thus demonstrates the necessity of proactive state policy-making in the field of reconstruction, with a view to minimising the risks of social fragmentation and strengthening social cohesion. The practical value of the findings lies in their potential use for developing post-war reconstruction strategies aimed at reinforcing national consolidation and enhancing the resilience of Ukrainian society to post-war challenges.

How to Cite

Khoma, N., & Patalakha, V. (2026). SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS OF NATIONAL CONSOLIDATION IN THE CONTEXT OF UKRAINE’S POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION. Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, 12(4), 182-191. https://doi.org/10.30525/2256-0742/2026-12-4-182-191
Article views: 21 | PDF Downloads: 9

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##

Keywords

national consolidation, post-war reconstruction, socio-economic factors, social cohesion, social justice, social resilience, labour market, demographic change, international aid management, corruption risks

References

Becker, T., Gorodnichenko, Y., & Weder di Mauro, B. (2025). How to Rebuild Ukraine: A Synthesis and Critical Review of Policy Proposals. Annual Review Economics, 17, 293–320. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-economics-081324-093012

Bodnar, А., & Oliinyk, L. (2025). The Impact of the War on the Consolidation of the Ukrainian Nation and the Change of Values. In: V. Stratonov (Ed.), Post-War Reconstruction of Ukraine: Legal, Political and Economic Challenges in Historical Perspective (pp. 44–55). Baltija Publishing. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-559-4-3

Burlai, T., & Kostrytsia, V. (2025). Ukraine’s Post-War Solidarization Based on International and EU Approaches. Economy and Sociology, 1, 28–42. https://doi.org/10.36004/nier.es.2025.1-03

Dernova, I., Borovyk, T., Doloka, L., & Danylevska, L. (2023). Social Protection of the Population in the Context of Armed Aggression, Post-War Recovery, and European Integration of Ukraine. Demography and Social Economy, 54(4), 93–114. https://doi.org/10.15407/dse2023.04.093

Gorodnichenko, Y., Sologoub, I., & Weder di Mauro, B. (Eds.) (2022). Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and policies. Paris Report 1. London: Centre for Economic Policy Recearch.

Horbyk, R. & Perović, J. (2025). Post-War Ukraine: Healing a Traumatized Nation. Policy Perspectives, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000737747

Ilchenko-Syuyva, L., & Tkachuk, J. (2025). Post-war Recovery in Ukraine: Theoretical Foundations of the Development of the State of Public Welfare. Public administration aspects, 13(3), 100–108. https://doi.org/10.15421/152536

Kistersky, L., & Zadoia, A. (2024). Transformation and Post-War Economic Recovery of Ukraine. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Kravchenko, K., Niemets, L., & Sehida, K. (2024). War Consequences and Prospects for Post-War Reconstruction (Case of Ukrainian Urban Agglomerations). Visnyk of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Geology. Geography. Ecology, 61, 193–211.

Kravchenko, O., Sergiienko, L., Niameshchuk, H., Mamatova, T., & Chykarenko, I. (2023). Post-war Recovery Practices for Ukraine, based on the Experience of other Countries that have Undergone Similar Processes. Economic Affairs, 68(04), 2277–2288. https://doi.org/10.46852/0424-2513.4.2023.35

Kudrjashov, V. (2024). Financial support for the recovery of Ukraine’s economy. Finance of Ukraine, 5, 33–50. https://doi.org/10.33763/finukr2024.05.033

Landesmann, M., Pindyuk, O., Tverdostup, M., & Kochnev, A. (2024). Economic Reconstruction of Ukraine. In: L. Mátyás (Ed.), Central and Eastern European Economies and the War in Ukraine. Contributions to Economics (pp. 317–372). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61561-0_10

Matuszak, S. (2026). High unemployment and labour shortages: paradoxes in Ukraine’s wartime labour market. https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2026-05-12/high-unemployment-and-labour-shortages-paradoxes-ukraines

Nate, S. (Ed.) (2025). Ukraine's Journey to Recovery, Reform and Post-War Reconstruction: a Blueprint for Security, Resilience and Development. Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66434-2

National Bank of Ukraine (2026). Macroeconomic Indicators. https://bank.gov.ua/en/statistic/macro-indicators

OECD (2023). Public procurement in the post war reconstruction of Ukraine – main challenges. https://doi.org/10.1787/dc825602-en

OECD (2026). Consolidating Ukraine’s recovery architecture: Where it stands and next steps. OECD Global Relations Policy Papers, 2026/01, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/e55159d1-en

Petrukha, N., Fedirko, N., Piatnychuk, I., Lyashenko, P., & Plakhotnii, D. (2025). Economic Rebuilding Frameworks in Post-War States: Takeaways for Ukraine. International Journal of Economic Sciences, 14(1), 196–210. https://doi.org/10.31181/ijes1412025196

Pirozhkov, S., Bohutskyi, Y., Libanova, E., Maiboroda, O. et al. (Eds.) (2017). Ukraine: The Way to Consolidate the Society: A National Report. Kyiv: Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Riabinina, N. (2024). Economic Welfare and Social Well-Being of the Population of Ukraine in the Postwar Years. Social Economics, 67, 60–71. https://doi.org/10.26565/2524-2547-2024-67-06

Ryazanova, N., Maister, A., & Slavkova, A. (2025). Financing Post-War Reconstruction of Economies on the Basis of Sustainable Development: Challenges and Solutions. Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, 11(4), 397–388. https://doi.org/10.30525/2256-0742/2025-11-4-379-388

Semenenko, O., Havryliuk, I., Solomitsky О., Kliat, Y., Dobrovolskyi, Y., & Hetman, A. (2025). Ukraine’s Postwar Recovery Strategy: a Systemic Model for Integrating Economy, Governance, and Security. Social Development and Security, 15(2), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.33445/sds.2025.15.2.2

Shpakova, Н., & Shpakov, A. (2023). Post-war Reconstruction Strategies of Ukraine: Institutional and Economic Dimensions. Ways to Improve Construction Efficiency, 51(1), 152–161. https://doi.org/10.32347/2707-501x.2023.51(1).152-161

Sinaj, Z., Vela, F., & Shaip, G. (2024). National Policy Instruments for Restoring the Post-War Economy and Factors of Sustainability of the Ukrainian Economy. Development Management, 23(2), 49–55. https://doi.org/10.57111/devt/2.2024.49

Stratonov, V. (Ed.) (2025). Post-War Reconstruction of Ukraine: Legal, Political and Economic Challenges in Historical Perspective. Riga: Baltija Publishing.

Tkachenko, S. (2024). Post-War Economic Recovery in Ukraine Problems, Risk and Ways. Економічні Economies Horizons, 2-3(28), 4–13. https://doi.org/10.31499/2616-5236.2(28).2024.300402

World Bank (2023). The Human Capital Losses of the War in Ukraine. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/5c9598063f47f2c96935621be315173b-0140062023/original/The-War-in-Ukraine-and-Human-Capital-Losses.pdf

World Bank (2025). Ukraine – Fifth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5): February 2022 – December 2025. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099022026094036395

Zalievska-Shyshak, A. & Shyshak, A. (2024). Social Innovations and Social Entrepreneurship in the Context of Post-War Recovery of Ukraine: Conceptualisation and Legal Aspects. Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, 7(3), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.33327/AJEE-18-7.3-a000310