Welcome to the Institute for Fiscal Studies

IFS^® is an independent research organisation. We aim to promote effective economic and social policies through rigorous analysis of their impact on individuals, families, firms and the public finances. The Institute hosts an ESRC research centre, and ESRC funding has paid for the design and maintenance of this website. [ More about IFS]

Ethnic parity in Jobcentre Plus programmes and mainstream services

08 May 2008

This report, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, estimates the extent to which there is ethnic parity in employment and benefit outcomes for Ethnic Minority Jobcentre plus customers compared to otherwise-identical White customers. The detailed report underlying the main summary report can be found here.

Executive summary

Main summary report

Reforming the tax system for the 21st century

21 April 2008

The first part of a study, commissioned for the Mirrlees Review of the British tax system, looks at how Britain's tax credit and benefit system could be overhauled to strengthen work incentives for people on low incomes, to increase simplicity and certainty for families, and to reduce fraud and administration costs for the taxpayer.

Press release

Mirrlees Review documentation

Abolition of the 10p starting rate

21 April 2008

Press release on the abolition of the 10p tax rate

Recent publications and research

Studying abroad and the effect on international labor market mobility: evidence from the introduction of ERASMUS

09 April 2008

We investigate the effect of studying abroad on international labor market mobility later in life for university graduates.

More details

Building trust? conditional cash transfers and social capital

04 April 2008

In this paper we propose a measure of social capital based on the behaviour in a public good game.

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New press releases

Abolition of the 10p starting rate
21 April , 2008

Taxes and the location of corporate headquarters
21 April , 2008

Reform tax credits to boost weak work incentives, says study prepared for the Mirrlees Review
21 April , 2008

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