A year ago, I expressed my hope that “2017 should be the year when Ukraine’s economy takes off.” It should have been, but it was not. In the last quarter of 2016, Ukraine’s GDP grew by 4.8 percent. Alas, in each of the ensuing four quarters, the growth rate declined and GDP grew by only 2 percent in 2017, slightly less than the cautious official projections. Ukraine is actually growing more slowly than the EU economy, and certainly slower than the global economy. Therefore, it is difficult to be optimistic about Ukraine’s economic growth in 2018.
Anders Aslund: It is difficult to be optimistic about Ukraine’s economic growth in 2018
People walk during snowfall in the center of western Ukrainian city of Lviv on December 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKY
