Effects of the EU-Russia Economic Sanctions on Value Added and Employment in the European Union and Switzerland

The ongoing trade conflict between the EU and Russia could have noticeable effects on the European economy given the importance of EU and Swiss exports to Russia. This study provides estimates of the potential economic consequences of the export sanctions approved by the European Council and the Swiss parliament as well as the counter sanctions enacted by the Russian Federation on all EU countries. Using a multi-country econometric input-output model the study estimates real value added and employment effects associated with a decline in commodity exports and tourism demand as observed in recent months. The weak performance of EU and Swiss exports to Russia, however, is not only the result of export restrictions on sanctioned goods and the worsening of economic relations between Russia and the EU plus Switzerland, but also a consequence of slackening economic growth in Russia. The uncertainty about the true economic impacts of the sanctions is addressed by estimating different scenarios and distinguishing between short and long-run effects.