 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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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. Search
This week, debate over the Government's Welfare Reform Bill has returned to the House of Commons. An element that has grabbed a lot of attention is the proposed benefit cap for working-age households (excluding those claiming Disability Living Allowance or Working Tax Credit), which will be set at £350 per week for childless single people and £500 per week for other households. This is now expected to affect about 67,000 households in Great Britain when implemented in 2013-14, reducing their benefit entitlement by an average of £83 per week and cutting the benefits bill by about £290 million in that year.
We should not current spending cuts as either the beginning, or the end, of dramatic change in the public sector writes Paul Johnson, Director of IFS.
As Chancellor George Osborne prepares for his keynote statement on fiscal policy and the economy the IFS Green Budget assesses some of the issues he will have to deal with.
As Chancellor George Osborne prepares for his keynote statement on fiscal policy and the economy the IFS Green Budget assesses some of the issues he will have to deal with.
The IFS Green Budget suggests that, even relative to major planned cuts, Whitehall departments will underspend by more than £3 billion this year.
The IFS Green Budget suggests that, even relative to major planned cuts, Whitehall departments will underspend by more than £3 billion this year.
This presentation was given at the launch of the Green Budget 2012.
This presentation was given at the launch of the Green Budget 2012.
This presentation was given at the launch of the Green Budget 2012.
Browse publications & research
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 Started: 31 January 2012
Started: 29 June 2011
Started: 28 September 2010
Started: 15 March 2010
Started: 29 January 2010
  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.
Past research into pension reform has contributed to evidence given to government on public service pensions.
Research told policymakers that, despite greater expenditure on health care, Americans are less healthy than their English counterparts.
IFS researchers have evaluated whether the temporary VAT cut was able to boost the economy effectively.
We analysed the impact of the 2006 HE funding reforms and informed the surrounding debate.
We provided evidence to the Browne Review of higher education funding about the impact of a number of higher education finance reforms.
IFS researchers assessed the government’s fiscal rules and advised policymakers as to how they could be made more credible.
IFS recommendations for presenting fiscal forecasts are being taken up by the new Office for Budget Responsibility.
Public spending analysis stokes public debate and prompts increased transparency over government’s plans for spending cuts.
An IFS economist advised a “Citizens Jury” on the welfare system, including basic facts and important issues about its purpose and structure.
IFS researchers have investigated whether it is possible to measure the distributional impact of changes to spending on public services.
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