Follow us
Publications Commentary Research People Events News Resources and Videos About IFS
Home News

News

IFS issues frequent press releases and observations and features regularly in online, broadcast and printed media. Staff also write and contribute to news articles.

IFS research staff are happy to speak to the press about the findings of our work. If you are a member of the press and have an enquiry or would like to receive new press releases by email, please contact the Head of public relations, Bonnie Brimstone (020 7291 4818).

“Their independence is beyond doubt as all the main political parties recognise their expertise." Evan Davis, BBC

Latest news

Press release
New proposals for council funding formula would hit deprived areas
Neil Amin Smith, Tom Harris and David Phillips
The statistical analysis the government cites to justify not including deprivation in the funding formula for many key services does not stand up to full scrutiny.
Press release
Today’s strong public finance figures are good news for the Chancellor, but a deteriorating economic outlook could still make for tricky fiscal arithmetic in the Spring Statement
Carl Emmerson and Thomas Pope
This morning the ONS released the latest public finance numbers, which provide data on public sector receipts and spending through to the end of January 2019. These are the final set of monthly data due to be published before the Chancellor’s Spring Statement which is scheduled for Wednesday ...
Press release
The government’s proposals for the reform of business rates retention need further work
Neil Amin Smith and David Phillips
The business rates retention system in England is very complex. Clarity and accuracy from the government are vital ahead of a proposed move from 50% to 75% business rates retention in April 2020.

Latest press releases and announcements

Press release
New proposals for council funding formula would hit deprived areas
Neil Amin Smith, Tom Harris and David Phillips
The statistical analysis the government cites to justify not including deprivation in the funding formula for many key services does not stand up to full scrutiny.
Press release
Today’s strong public finance figures are good news for the Chancellor, but a deteriorating economic outlook could still make for tricky fiscal arithmetic in the Spring Statement
Carl Emmerson and Thomas Pope
This morning the ONS released the latest public finance numbers, which provide data on public sector receipts and spending through to the end of January 2019. These are the final set of monthly data due to be published before the Chancellor’s Spring Statement which is scheduled for Wednesday ...
Press release
The government’s proposals for the reform of business rates retention need further work
Neil Amin Smith and David Phillips
The business rates retention system in England is very complex. Clarity and accuracy from the government are vital ahead of a proposed move from 50% to 75% business rates retention in April 2020.
Press release
If the coming spending review is to end austerity Chancellor will need to find extra billions
Ben Zaranko, Carl Emmerson and Thomas Pope
The Chancellor is yet to confirm how much money will be made available to departments at the 2019 Spending Review. To meet his promise to end austerity, Phillip Hammond will need to find billions of extra funding.
Press release
Cuts to support mean 1.3 million more low-income households get a council tax bill, but a quarter of the extra tax due is not paid
Stuart Adam, Thomas Pope and Robert Joyce
In 2013, support for low-income households to pay their council tax was localised across England and funding for it was cut, while it was mandated that pensioners be protected. Hence for the first time since the poll tax, some of the lowest-income households have been required to pay local tax.
News
IFS at the American Economic Association 2019 Annual Meeting

The AEA, in conjunction with 59 associations in related disciplines known as the Allied Social Science Associations (ASSA), holds a three-day meeting each January to present papers on general economics topics. This January, several IFS economists are presenting their work. 

IFS Research Director Rachel Griffith is presenting papers on 'Tax Design in the Alcohol Market', 'The Innovation Premium to Soft Skills in low-skilled occupations' and 'How well targeted are soda taxes?'.

CPP Director Richard Blundell is presenting papers on 'Nonlinear Persistence and Partial Insurance: Innovations in ...

News
IFS Associate Director David Phillips gives evidence on the Scottish Budget

On Wednesday 19 December, IFS Associate Director David Phillips gave evidence to the Finance and Constitution Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Government's taxation proposals. The session was reported live here.

News
IFS researcher Tom Waters gives evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee

On 12 December, IFS research economist Tom Waters gave evidence to the Commons Work and Pensions Committee on the two child limit in tax credits and Universal Credit. The committee session is available to watch online here.