 Facts and figures about UK taxes, benefits and public spending.
Analysing government fiscal forecasts and tax and spending.
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.
Find out where you are in the income distribution.
Resources for schools and students.
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Understanding how consumers make decisions and what affects their behaviour is of key importance across a wide range of policy issues, from the analysis of indirect taxation to the assessment of competition policy. For example, the most recent developments in industrial organisation focus on how firms in imperfectly competitive markets interact, taking the structure of consumer demand as given. The nature of the equilibria that prevail in different markets depends crucially on the nature of consumer decisions.
Past research at IFS has played a leading role in the development of policy-relevant empirical models of consumer behaviour. Looking forward, our research will put the consumer at the heart of competition analysis by providing a rigorous characterisation of consumer behaviour. This is crucial for designing regulatory structures and the implementation of consumer and competition policy across many markets, from retailing to telecoms. Our research aims to develop the analysis of consumer decision-making in conjunction with the analysis of newly available Consumer Panel data. We study behaviour in Britain in detail but also engage in comparative research on similar data in Europe and North America. Price indices and measures of consumer welfare are fundamental inputs into many areas of policy, influencing benefit and state pension levels, and monetary policy, as well as private sector wage bargaining. Price indices vary for many reasons, including the types of goods purchased, where the purchases are made and the extent to which firms have market power. Obtaining useful price indices requires estimates of substitution possibilities and the value placed on new goods by consumers at different points in the income distribution. Demand responses are essential inputs in the design of indirect and environmental taxes. Price discrimination and the effective cost of living across different types of consumers are important for understanding the adequacy of levels of welfare benefits and pensions. The new Consumer Panel data open up an exciting new research agenda. Search
Yesterday, the Government published a 'call to action' which lays out its strategy for tackling obesity in England. One approach to tackling diet related health problems, which governments are increasingly turning to, is the use of fiscal measures. We look at some of the issues involved in designing a 'fat tax' and under what circumstances such a policy may be effective.
This presentation was given at the European Association for Research in Industrial Economics annual conference in Stockholm on 3rd September 2011.
This presentation was delivered at the Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
Today the Environmental Audit Committee published a report focusing on the implications of Budget 2011 for environmental taxes. One of the key recommendations was that in order to 'build trust and acceptance of environmental taxes', consideration should be given to 'greater use of at least partial hypothecation of revenues from environmental taxes [for environmental ends].' We argue that earmarking revenues in this way would be at best meaningless and at worst inefficient, and that a case for increased green taxes ought to be argued on its own merits.
This Commentary analyses recent trends in household spending, with a focus on domestic fuel and water, and examines the impact of changes in the price of these goods on household inflation.
This presentation was delivered at the IFS briefing 'Cash by any other name? evidence on labelling from the UK Winter Fuel Payment', 8 June 2011.
We study the UK Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) and find robust evidence of a behavioural effect of the labelling.
Timothy K.M. Beatty, Laura Blow and Thomas F Crossley
We find evidence that the poorest of older households are unable to smooth spending over the worst temperature shocks.
We show that lottery players display higher income effects than non-players but only amongst those likely to be credit constrained.
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   IFS researchers found that the Saving Gateway was not the best way to support lower income families; government acted on this advice.
In light of Government objectives to increase environmental taxation, we investigate whether the UK tax system is becoming more or less ‘green’.
IFS researchers have monitored the extent to which some households experience higher rates of inflation than others.
IFS researchers have evaluated whether the temporary VAT cut was able to boost the economy effectively.
Government departments used IFS research to inform decision-marking about a temporary cut in VAT.
Methods developed at IFS for measuring wealth were instrumental in establishing a detailed government dataset about assets and debt in Britain.
IFS researchers present and discuss new research on retirement saving with a group of business leaders and policy makers.
IFS develops data on food prices and nutrition to build capacity for policy-relevant social science research.
In a tough economic climate IFS looks at how households are able to cope.
An IFS research fellow is leading an independent review into how to make automatic enrolment into workplace pensions operate best.
IFS researchers develop a model of the Mexican tax system that will be used by the Mexican Government analysts.
IFS researchers have investigated whether it is possible to measure the distributional impact of changes to spending on public services.
IFS researchers have investigated the relative merits of government policies designed to protect elderly households from the coldest winters.
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