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Public spending and finance
IFS researchers conduct ongoing analysis of the outturns of and outlook for the public finances. Our work in this area looks at forecasts of government revenues and spending (overall and on specific areas) and aims to inform public debate, particularly around the time of Budgets, Autumn Statements, Spending Reviews and Elections. Over many years we have kept track of the evolution of the public finances and how different governments have fared. A number of IFS publications have assessed the fiscal performance of past administrations.

The financial crisis and the economic damage associated with it opened up a structural hole in the public finances that, if left unaddressed, would be impervious to the economic recovery and would put public sector debt on an unsustainable path. The coalition Government faces a significant challenge to restore the public finances to better health. A comprehensive description of how the public finances evolved through the Great Recession can be found in Disease and cure in the UK: the fiscal impact of the crisis and the policy response.

Overview of research on public spending and finance.

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Year: 575 publications
01 January 1996
01 January 1996
W96/07
Tim Besley, John Hall and Ian Preston
This report studies the demand for private health insurance in the UK using data from the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey.
01 January 1996
W96/01
01 January 1996
C052
Tim Besley, John Hall and Ian Preston
This report studies the demand for private health insurance in the UK using data from the British Social Attitudes Survey.
01 November 1995
Alan Duncan and Peter Smith
The analysis of the expenditure decisions of English local authorities has assumed great importance as central government has sought to exercise increasing control over the activities of local government.
01 June 1995
R47
Kevin Denny, John Hall and Stephen Smith
The national non-domestic rate was introduced in 1990 to replace a system of locally varying business rates which had lasted for almost four centuries. Five years after the. 1990 reforms, this report evaluates the operation of the present system and discusses various options for reform.
01 January 1995
R46
John Hall and Stephen Smith
This report considers the issues involved in using sales taxes as a possible source of local government revenues in the UK.
01 January 1995
26 October 1993
W93/16
01 April 1993
C037
Chris Giles and Michael Ridge
In this commentary we address issues of fairness and the simplicity of Council Tax. Using actual data on Council Taxes set by local authorities we examine how the Council Tax is distributed across the income range and by individual type.
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Current research
Started: 19 November 2012
Started: 01 October 2012
Started: 31 January 2012
Started: 01 January 2012
Impact on Society
An IFS economist advised a “Citizens Jury” on the welfare system, including basic facts and important issues about its purpose and structure.
Past research into pension reform has contributed to evidence given to government on public service pensions.
Public spending analysis stokes public debate and prompts increased transparency over government’s plans for spending cuts.
IFS researchers have evaluated whether the temporary VAT cut was able to boost the economy effectively.
IFS researchers helped make a case against proposed cuts to public spending on science.
IFS arguments for independent official fiscal forecasts contributed to the government’s decision to set up an Office for Budget Responsibility.
IFS recommendations for presenting fiscal forecasts are being taken up by the new Office for Budget Responsibility.
Research told policymakers that, despite greater expenditure on health care, Americans are less healthy than their English counterparts.
IFS researchers assessed the government’s fiscal rules and advised policymakers as to how they could be made more credible.
We provided evidence to the Browne Review of higher education funding about the impact of a number of higher education finance reforms.
IFS researchers draw together lessons from behavioural economics for tax and benefit policy in a report aimed at policymakers.
We analysed the impact of the 2006 HE funding reforms and informed the surrounding debate.
IFS researchers have investigated whether it is possible to measure the distributional impact of changes to spending on public services.