Facts and figures about UK taxes, benefits and public spending.
Income distribution, poverty and inequality.
Analysing government fiscal forecasts and tax and spending.
Analysis of the fiscal choices an independent Scotland would face.
Case studies that give a flavour of the areas where IFS research has an impact on society.
Reforming the tax system for the 21st century.
A peer-reviewed quarterly journal publishing articles by academics and practitioners.
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Type: Journal Articles Authors: Carl Emmerson and Matthew Wakefield ISSN: Print: 0143-5671 Online: 1475-5890
Published in: Fiscal Studies, Vol. 24, No. 2, June 2003
Volume, issue, pages: Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.167-195
JEL classification: D91
Press release: Do we need a new Gateway to Saving?
The government is committed to introducing a new savings account for people on lower incomes. This will provide a strong incentive for eligible individuals to save, or at least to hold financial assets, in these accounts. This paper describes possible rationales for this government intervention. It then presents new evidence on the characteristics of people with lower incomes and finds that many already have some financial assets, while those who do not often appear to have good reasons for why they may not want to be currently saving. The result is that the proposed Saving Gateway will be extremely difficult to target at those who might benefit in the way the government hopes. The danger is that the policy will be expensive relative to the number of genuine new savers and savings that it generates. Search |
IFS researchers found that the Saving Gateway was not the best way to support lower income families; government acted on this advice.
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