IFS staff in the office

About

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is the UK’s leading independent economics research institute.

Our job is to analyse and inform economic and social policy decisions and to help policymakers – and those who hold them accountable – understand the impact that their choices will have on individuals, households and businesses.

We are a team of economists working in collaboration with other academic institutions and experts from the public services, third sector and business.

We count a number of the world’s leading economists among our researchers, and many of our experts go on to make up the next generation of policymakers, academic scholars and business leaders. Our culture of inclusivity, excellence and independence reaches beyond our staff to shape the future of economics and policy development. 

The IFS is recognised as a global centre of excellence for social science research by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council. We are proud of our reputation for academic rigour, policy impact, high quality communications and absolute independence. It is this reputation – and our commitment to upholding the highest possible standards of quality, rigour and transparency – that ensure that our research, commentary and analysis is so widely used and cited.

What we do

Our academic research is at the cutting edge of data analysis, economic modelling and other modern social science methods.

We apply this expertise to policy options across a range of issues – from taxes and benefits to education and health, from inequality to corporate taxation. 

Through flagship initiatives such as the Mirlees Review, the  IFS Green Budget and the IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities, we have been guiding politicians and civil servants in implementing effective economic policies for over 50 years.

We communicate our work widely on a national and international scale, providing independent commentary and analysis to stakeholders in the UK, Europe and in low- and middle-income countries around the world. Through our work in the media and through public initiatives like the IFS Tax Lab we open up the policy debate and promote a wider understanding of economics.