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Ben Zaranko

Ben Zaranko

Research Economist

Education

MSc Economics (Distinction), University College London, 2020

BA Economics and Management (1st class), University of Oxford, 2016

Ben joined the IFS as a Research Economist in 2017. His work focuses on the public finances, with a particular focus on public spending, and on the health and social care system. Current research projects include analysis of the impact of cuts to social care spending on hospitals, an investigation of socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare utilisation, and a study into the effects of disruptions to teams of nursing staff. Before joining the IFS, Ben worked in the private sector as an actuarial consultant.

Academic outputs

IFS Working Paper W20/40
Long-term care spending and hospital use among the older population in England
This paper examines the impact of changes in public long-term care spending on the use of public hospitals among the older population in England, and the cost and quality of this care.
Journal article | Fiscal Studies, Volume 41, Issue 2
The wider impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the NHS
This paper discusses likely implications for healthcare delivery in the short and medium term of the responses to the coronavirus pandemic, focusing primarily on the implications for non‐coronavirus patients.

Reports and comment

Observation
SNP Manifesto - An initial response from IFS researchers
The SNP’s manifesto offers big gains to a number of targeted groups in Scotland - but would involve difficult trade-offs in a tight budgetary environment.
Briefing note
Public service spending in Scotland: trends and key issues
How is Scotland's higher spending allocated across different services? How have these allocations changed over time? And how do a range of headline indicators of public service outcomes vary between Scotland and England?

Presentations

Presentation
Spending Review 2020: IFS analysis
IFS researchers presented their initial analysis of the Chancellor's announcements at an online briefing the day after the 2020 Spending Review.
Presentation
The future of public service spending
This year's Spending Review is likely to be the most difficult to date. At this event, Ben Zaranko looked ahead to the upcoming Spending Review, and outlined the options, opportunities and challenges facing the Chancellor. He was joined by Graham Atkins from IfG, who looked at the impact of Covid ...