Public finance

Chancellor Rishi Sunak responded to the OBR's latest economic and fiscal forecast on Wednesday 23 March. IFS researchers presented their initial analysis of the Chancellor's announcements on the public finances at a live-streamed press briefing the following day.

Pre-Spring Statement Presentation

At this event, IFS researchers will set out their latest assessment of the economic and fiscal backdrop and some of the challenges that the Chancellor will need to consider.

Christine Farquharson gave a talk on the landscape for early years spending and the challenges facing the sector going forward.

In September, the government announced that it was introducing a cap on the lifetime social care costs faced by individuals. At the event a joint IFS-Health Foundation report was presented that looks at the implications of this change.

This report analyses Ghana’s customs revenues in historical and international context, before using detailed data to investigate the drivers of revenue in recent years.

An initial analysis of the 2022-23 Local Government Finance Settlement finds slightly more funding than expected, and bigger increases for poorer areas.

The next few years are likely to be particularly challenging for schools, colleges, universities and nurseries. This event examined how education spending can be best set to support levelling up and narrow inequalities.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced his Autumn 2021 Budget and Spending Review on Wednesday 27 October. IFS researchers presented their initial analysis of the Chancellor's announcements on the public finances, spending on public services, and the tax and the benefit system today, Thursday 28 October at a livestreamed press briefing.

By 2026, despite the sharp reduction in borrowing, the UK is forecast to see the second-biggest increase in government debt out of 28 economies for which comparable forecasts are available – with only the US seeing a bigger increase.