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.
Don’t cheer end of earnings squeeze: there is more pain to come CommentPaul Johnson writes for The Times on the pain to come for households and the public finances.19 June 2023
Should government help low-income families get a healthy start? CommentHow does the government's Healthy Start scheme work? 13 June 2023
Government spending has long been targeted at the poorest in our society CommentPaul Johnson writes for The Times on how taking account of public service spending is critical to assessing the government's redistribution of wealth.5 June 2023
Why saving for a pension has become more risky Comment"Many working-age people may not realise just how much risk they are facing when it comes to ensuring financial security in retirement."5 June 2023
Public service spending has become significantly more progressive since the 1980s CommentChanges in the composition of spending and rising education participation mean public service spending is more progressive than in the 1980s & 1990s.31 May 2023
An immediate response to the Scottish Government’s MTFS CommentUpdated funding and spending projections show a significant funding gap looming for the Scottish Government – and little sense of how to address it.25 May 2023
Remote working is probably here to stay, and these are the reasons why Comment"Let’s try to shed some light into a heated debate." Paul Johnson writes for the Times on the evidence on working from home and hybrid working.22 May 2023
Turbocharged tax increases reveal PM’s lack of options Comment"My bet is that the tax burden will not get back to its pre-2020 levels for many decades, if ever." Paul Johnson writes for the Times on tax rises.17 May 2023
Improving financial security in retirement CommentIt is estimated that fewer than one in five self-employed people are currently saving into a pension. An article by Alistair Darling and David Gauke16 May 2023
The three problems at the heart of Britain’s impending retirement disaster CommentAn honest look at pension planning is needed amid longer life expectancies and NHS pressures16 May 2023
Lots more people are working, but in jobs that keep them in poverty Comment"As well as a continuing focus on making sure people can get into work, we also need to look at the quality of work." Paul Johnson in the Times.8 May 2023
How big is the teacher pay offer in England? CommentThe government’s new pay offer for teachers in England is mostly funded, but will still leave teachers facing large real-terms salary cuts since 20102 May 2023
As the state gets bigger, taxes will rise. It’s time to be honest about that CommentWinston Churchill, a man of famously expensive habits, believed that income should always be adjusted to meet expenses, and never the other way around28 April 2023
We must act now to prevent a real pensions crisis developing in future Comment"If we are to avoid sleepwalking into a future much worse than the present, we need to start acting now." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 24 April 2023
What impact did lowering the benefit cap have? CommentDWP study finds that lowering the benefit cap led to some moving into paid work, some moving onto an exempting disability benefit and some moving home20 April 2023
VAT may be 50, but it has a lot of growing up to do — and so do we Comment"Happy 50th birthday, VAT." Paul Johnson writes for The Times on the design and complexities of VAT on its 50th anniversary.10 April 2023
A reduced discount rate for public sector pensions will add billions to employer costs CommentA reduction in the UK’s long-term growth prospects means that public service pension promises will be costlier to meet in future.6 April 2023
New DWP study on sanctions may not be all it seems CommentThis comment investigates the robustness of a new DWP report suggesting that benefit sanctions reduce employment.6 April 2023
Britain’s economically damaging tax system is now indefensible Comment"In remembering Lord Lawson, it is surely his 1988 Budget which will stand as his defining moment as chancellor." Paul Johnson writes in The Telegraph5 April 2023
Lower oil and gas prices set to hit Scotland’s underlying public finances CommentScotland’s underlying fiscal position is set to improve by much less than expected last year, as oil and gas prices fall back. 3 April 2023
Commentary: all content
Showing 81 – 100 of 1159 results
Don’t cheer end of earnings squeeze: there is more pain to come
19 June 2023
Should government help low-income families get a healthy start?
13 June 2023
Government spending has long been targeted at the poorest in our society
5 June 2023
Why saving for a pension has become more risky
5 June 2023
Public service spending has become significantly more progressive since the 1980s
31 May 2023
An immediate response to the Scottish Government’s MTFS
25 May 2023
Remote working is probably here to stay, and these are the reasons why
22 May 2023
Turbocharged tax increases reveal PM’s lack of options
17 May 2023
Improving financial security in retirement
16 May 2023
The three problems at the heart of Britain’s impending retirement disaster
16 May 2023
Lots more people are working, but in jobs that keep them in poverty
8 May 2023
How big is the teacher pay offer in England?
2 May 2023
As the state gets bigger, taxes will rise. It’s time to be honest about that
28 April 2023
We must act now to prevent a real pensions crisis developing in future
24 April 2023
What impact did lowering the benefit cap have?
20 April 2023
VAT may be 50, but it has a lot of growing up to do — and so do we
10 April 2023
A reduced discount rate for public sector pensions will add billions to employer costs
6 April 2023
New DWP study on sanctions may not be all it seems
6 April 2023
Britain’s economically damaging tax system is now indefensible
5 April 2023
Lower oil and gas prices set to hit Scotland’s underlying public finances
3 April 2023