More from IFS
Understand this issue

Why did the French Budget fail to pass?
France’s failed budget highlights fundamental challenges with public debt, slow growth, and the need for significant reforms.
12 December 2024

What does the Budget mean for the UK?
We discuss the Chancellor's first Budget and what impact the changes could have.
31 October 2024

How can government reduce child poverty?
We're exploring why there's been an increase in child poverty since 2010 and options the government has to reduce this.
3 October 2024
Policy analysis

How should governments help households during an energy crisis?
The government spent billions on support to help households with their energy bills in 2022–23. Could a better-designed package have saved money?
31 January 2025

Challenges for the means-tested benefit system for older people
At this online event, IFS researchers presented new research highlighting key issues with the benefit system around retirement age.

The 2025–26 English Local Government Finance Settlement explained
English councils’ core spending power set to increase 3.8% in real terms next year, but increases will vary hugely across the country.
18 December 2024
Academic research

The welfare effects of price shocks and household relief packages: Evidence from the European Energy Crisis
How should governments respond to rapid increases in the cost of living driven by shocks to the prices of staple goods?
31 January 2025

Tax evasion and the contribution-benefit link: the case of maternity benefits
This paper studies tax evasion and the contribution-benefit link in the context of maternity benefits in Hungary.
18 December 2024

Wage effects of means-tested transfers: Incidence implications of using firms as intermediaries
We show that how countries disburse tax credits matters for economic incidence by exploiting reform to the disbursement of child benefits in Argentina
22 October 2024