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.
Is there really an NHS productivity crisis? CommentIt is difficult to measure NHS productivity. But the available evidence strongly suggests that the NHS is less productive now than pre-pandemic.17 November 2023
Using October rather than September inflation to uprate working-age benefits represents a £3 billion cut CommentUsing October rather than September inflation to uprate benefits in April 2024 would be a permanent £3 billion cut to the size of the benefits system.16 November 2023
Revaluation and reform of Welsh council tax should proceed without delay CommentWe analyse the impact of the possible approaches to council tax reform set out in the Welsh Government’s consultation on ‘A fairer council tax’. 14 November 2023
Retirement is not always a choice that workers can afford to make Comment"More of us may feel little choice but to work a year or two longer than planned." Paul Johnson writes for The Times.6 November 2023
Taxes could be cut within broader reforms Comment"The Chancellor doesn’t need to wait for fiscal headroom to reform public finances" says Helen Miller in The Telegraph. 2 November 2023
Women in surgery: slow progress for mothers CommentSurvey evidence published recently showed staggering levels of sexual harassment (and worse) in surgery.31 October 2023
Debt can be redefined but it won’t disappear. Hard decisions are needed Comment"The bind is a real one. Both we and our political leaders need to face up to it." Paul Johnson writes for The Times.23 October 2023
Behind the numbers: reassessing investment in skills and training Comment"There are concrete steps, such as reforming the Apprenticeship Levy, that the government should take to improve the existing skills system."12 October 2023
Schools and segregation: a comparison of Scotland and England CommentWe study how the different ways pupils are assigned to schools in England and Scotland relate to income segregation in schools and neighbourhoods.10 October 2023
Big changes to HS2 and education will prove a real test for Rishi Sunak Comment"Too many announcements, not enough evident strategy." Paul Johnson in The Times on the announcements in last week's Conservative Party Conference.9 October 2023
What is happening to school funding and costs in England? CommentSchools funding in England is going up faster than economy-wide inflation, but not as fast as the cost pressures schools actually face. 5 October 2023
IFS response to the Prime Minister's proposed Advanced British Standard education reform CommentThe Prime Minister's proposed Advanced British Standard is an ambitious reform.4 October 2023
‘Only millionaires should fear inheritance tax – not the property-owning middle class’ Comment"As inherited wealth grows, the need for tax reform is becoming more pressing." Carl Emmerson writes in The Telegraph.4 October 2023
This will be the biggest tax-raising parliament on record CommentThis has been the biggest tax-raising parliament since records began, pushing UK tax revenues to historically high levels.29 September 2023
What is the point of inheritance tax? CommentDavid Sturrock and Arun Advani write for the New Statesman on inheritance tax, social mobility and tax revenues.29 September 2023
Sunak’s weak intervention may prompt a climate change revolution Comment"We need some light shone on what needs doing and on how far away we are from doing it." Paul Johnson writes for The Times on our net zero targets.25 September 2023
British tax system is in need of reform Comment"There are few corners of the British tax system that are not in urgent need of repair." Isaac Delestre writes for Taxation.15 September 2023
Time to scrap the English NHS Bursary CommentThe NHS bursary is a needless subsidy for high-earning former medical students. Now would be an excellent time to scrap it.14 September 2023
IFS responds to release of average earnings statistics which determine rise in state pension in April CommentIFS response to today’s average earnings growth figure, which is very likely to determine how much the state pension increases by next April.12 September 2023
Scottish council tax proposals are a small step in the right direction but duck the biggest issue: revaluation CommentProposed reforms to council tax in Scotland would further reduce regressivity but should go further, and the issue of revaluation is ducked yet again. 11 September 2023
Commentary: all content
Showing 41 – 60 of 1159 results
Is there really an NHS productivity crisis?
17 November 2023
Using October rather than September inflation to uprate working-age benefits represents a £3 billion cut
16 November 2023
Revaluation and reform of Welsh council tax should proceed without delay
14 November 2023
Retirement is not always a choice that workers can afford to make
6 November 2023
Taxes could be cut within broader reforms
2 November 2023
Women in surgery: slow progress for mothers
31 October 2023
Debt can be redefined but it won’t disappear. Hard decisions are needed
23 October 2023
Behind the numbers: reassessing investment in skills and training
12 October 2023
Schools and segregation: a comparison of Scotland and England
10 October 2023
Big changes to HS2 and education will prove a real test for Rishi Sunak
9 October 2023
What is happening to school funding and costs in England?
5 October 2023
IFS response to the Prime Minister's proposed Advanced British Standard education reform
4 October 2023
‘Only millionaires should fear inheritance tax – not the property-owning middle class’
4 October 2023
This will be the biggest tax-raising parliament on record
29 September 2023
What is the point of inheritance tax?
29 September 2023
Sunak’s weak intervention may prompt a climate change revolution
25 September 2023
British tax system is in need of reform
15 September 2023
Time to scrap the English NHS Bursary
14 September 2023
IFS responds to release of average earnings statistics which determine rise in state pension in April
12 September 2023
Scottish council tax proposals are a small step in the right direction but duck the biggest issue: revaluation
11 September 2023