The £600 billion problem awaiting the next government podcastWe speak to David Gauke and Giles Wilkes, two experts who have been at the heart of the spending review process.25 April 2024
Be the Chancellor Our interactive tool lets you be the Chancellor. Change spending plans, set tax policies and see how your choices impact borrowing and debt.
Should we worry about government debt? podcastDavid Miles joins us to discuss high government debt and its impact on the economy. 11 April 2024
IFS Annual Lecture - Innovation and productivity policies: a budgetary perspective event 15 May 2024 Professor Heidi Williams (Dartmouth College) will deliver the 2024 IFS Annual Lecture on innovation and productivity policies.
Higher Education Access and Funding: challenges and policy options conference 14 May 2024 This one-day academic conference will look at access to and funding of Higher Education systems.
Jobs landing pageAt IFS, we recruit and train top-quality economists and professional support staff. We aim to foster a respectful and inclusive working environment.20 July 2022
Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy The Research Centre at the heart of IFS is the CPP.
Don’t cheer end of earnings squeeze: there is more pain to come Comment Paul Johnson writes for The Times on the pain to come for households and the public finances. 19 June 2023
The distribution of public service spending Report This report for the IFS-Deaton Review looks at how public service spending is distributed across the population in the UK. 31 May 2023
What impact did lowering the benefit cap have? Comment DWP study finds that lowering the benefit cap led to some moving into paid work, some moving onto an exempting disability benefit and some moving home 20 April 2023
Challenges for the UK pension system: the case for a pensions review Report This report makes the case that economic and policy changes in the last two decades necessitate a comprehensive review of the UK pension system. 20 April 2023
New DWP study on sanctions may not be all it seems Comment This comment investigates the robustness of a new DWP report suggesting that benefit sanctions reduce employment. 6 April 2023
The policy menu for school lunches: options and trade-offs in expanding free school meals in England Report The expansion of free school meals has been frequently discussed. IFS researchers consider the costs and benefits of different options. 29 March 2023
Raising the state pension age risks trapping millions in poverty Comment "Exactly when next to raise the pension age is a matter of judgment and trade-offs." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 27 March 2023
The planned increase in the state pension age from 67 to 68 Comment There are reports that the government will no longer increase the state pension age between 2037-39. We examine the key considerations for this delay. 25 March 2023
Inequality fell in the first two years of the pandemic as middle- and high-income households became worse off Comment Declining real incomes for middle- and high-income households, together with a rise for poorer households, led to a reduction in income inequality. 23 March 2023
The Spring Budget explained Podcast We provide our analysis on the Chancellor's Spring Budget. 16 March 2023
Spring Budget 2023: the challenges ahead Event 28 February 2023 at 10:00 via Slido and Youtube Jeremy Hunt delivered his first Budget on 15th of March. At this online event, IFS researchers outlined the challenges he faced.
Public finances may be improving, but personal circumstances certainly are not Comment "Don’t be lulled into thinking we have reached the bottom of hole into which living standards have been sliding. We almost certainly haven’t." 27 February 2023
Scottish Budget 2023-24: IFS analysis Event 17 February 2023 at 10:00 Ahead of the final Scottish Parliament vote on the Budget, IFS researchers presented their analysis of the proposals.
Scottish Budget 2023–24: further analysis Report The aim of this report is to look at some of the key implications of the Scottish Budget for the coming year, and for the longer term. 17 February 2023
Analysis of Scottish tax and benefit reforms Report We analyse the impact of changes to devolved income tax rates and bands and benefits, and show the total impact of the changes. 9 February 2023
Freezes in housing support widen geographic disparities for low-income renters Comment We examine the impact of the government’s decision to continue the freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates for 2023-24. 3 February 2023
Inequality and the benefits system Event 2 February 2023 at 11:00 At this online event, we presented and discussed findings from a major new work on benefits.
Inequality and the benefits system Presentation At this online event, we presented and discussed findings from a major new work on benefits. 2 February 2023
Do work search requirements work? Evidence from a UK reform targeting single parents Working Paper We assess whether work search requirements for out-of-work welfare claimants are effective in inducing individuals to work & delivering fiscal savings 1 February 2023
Intensive margin labour supply and the dynamic effects of in-work transfers Working Paper How should dynamic considerations affect the design of in-work transfers? 1 February 2023
