Challenges facing the public finances

Understand this issue

Should we worry about government debt?

podcast

David Miles joins us to discuss high government debt and its impact on the economy.

11 April 2024

Spring Budget 2024: What you need to know

podcast

IFS reaction to the Chancellor's Spring Budget.

7 March 2024

The way Chancellors respond to economic news adds to our debt - here's why

explainer

Chancellors don’t respond symmetrically to good and bad economic news. The result is higher debt.

1 March 2024

Policy analysis

Oil and gas make Scotland’s underlying public finances particularly volatile and uncertain

comment

A fallback in oil and gas prices has hit Scotland’s underlying public finance position this year.

27 March 2024

Recent trends in and the outlook for health-related benefits

report

Recipients of and spending on health-related benefits have risen rapidly since the start of the pandemic, posing a serious challenge for policymakers.

19 April 2024

4.2 million working-age people now claiming health-related benefits, could rise by 30% by the end of the decade

press release

Our new report sheds more light on forecasts for a substantial increase in the number of people claiming health-related benefits in coming years.

19 April 2024

Academic research

6th World Bank/IFS/ODI Public Finance Conference | Driving Progress: Public Finance and Structural Transformation

conference 26 September 2024

We invite researchers from both academic and policy institutions to submit a paper or an extended abstract of two or more pages by April.

Call for papers: 5th World Bank/IFS/ODI Research Conference

announcement

Submissions are open until 15th May for the 5th World Bank/IFS/ODI Research Conference on the "Political Economy of Public Finances".

3 April 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