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) delivered the 2024 IFS Annual Lecture on innovation and productivity policies.
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.
Raising the state pension age risks trapping millions in poverty Comment "Exactly when next to raise the pension age is a matter of judgment and trade-offs." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 27 March 2023
At last, we are back to a normal budget, but don’t expect many treats Comment "A stagnant economy leaves little room for either more spending or less tax." Paul Johnson writes for the Times ahead of Wednesday's Spring Budget. 13 March 2023
Public finances may be improving, but personal circumstances certainly are not Comment "Don’t be lulled into thinking we have reached the bottom of hole into which living standards have been sliding. We almost certainly haven’t." 27 February 2023
Changes to taxing pensions need to be sensitive, but they should happen Comment "We need to tread carefully, gradually and sensitively, but this cannot be a permanent block to action." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 13 February 2023
The next few years risk giving us a very unlucky generation of workers Comment "The next worry is for those entering work over the next couple of years... I fear they will be the truly unlucky generation." 30 January 2023
Stamping on stamp duty would free empty nesters to fly their coops Comment A reflection on the housing market. 16 January 2023
It’s not only the NHS in trouble — the whole country is getting sicker Comment "Public health needs to move up all our agendas." Paul Johnson writes in the Times on the staggering worsening in the UK's national health. 19 December 2022
We need to understand the diversity of experience across ethnic groups Comment "Understanding the diversity of experience across ethnic groups has never been so important." Paul Johnson writes in the Times on ethnic inequalities. 5 December 2022
We can live with higher taxes but only if we secure serious reforms Comment “If tax is to stay high it is more important than ever that the tax system is both equitable and efficient.” Paul Johnson in The Times. 21 November 2022
The poor are failed most by our inability to reform local services Comment "Our system of funding for local services is not fit for purpose." Paul Johnson in The Times on the urgent need for local services funding reform. 24 October 2022
A good start, but the markets may take fright again on Halloween Comment "Only a reversal of direction on that scale was ever going to be enough to reassure the markets and start to get fiscal policy back on track." 18 October 2022
Flexible pensions could offer a way out of the public sector pay crisis Comment Paul Johnson writes in The Times about the problems facing Kwasi Kwarteng. 10 October 2022
