The tax and spending choices facing Andy Burnham podcast<p class="p1">Andy Burnham faces difficult choices over tax, borrowing and public spending. How much room will the new Prime Minister have to act?</p>16 July 2026
Will devolution solve the UK’s economic woes? podcast<p>Could devolution boost UK growth, or would it widen regional divides? We ask what shifting power from Westminster would really mean.</p>9 July 2026
The inequality of 'good jobs' podcast<p>What makes a good job? This episode explores pay, progression, flexibility and why access to better work is unequal.</p>25 June 2026
Increasing pension contributions: what would higher employer minimums mean? event 21 July 2026 <p>Join us as IFS researchers present findings on employer pension contributions and explore how higher minimum rates could affect workers and employers.</p>
Jobs landing page<p>At IFS, we recruit and train top-quality economists and professional support staff. We aim to foster a respectful and inclusive working environment.</p>20 July 2022
Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy The Research Centre at the heart of IFS is the CPP.
Where next for public sector pay? Event 27 September 2024 at 09:30 via Slido and YouTube This online event will look at the prospects for public sector pay for different occupations given the public spending pressures in the coming years.
Pressures on public sector pay Report Over a fifth of government spending goes on pay. We examine recruitment and retention challenges which mean that pressures could mount going forward. 27 September 2024
Delivering better public services may require reforming public sector pay, not just raising it Press Release Each part of the public sector faces its own challenges, but recruitment and retention issues loom large. 26 September 2024
Free breakfast clubs in schools: what Labour’s plans would mean for pupils and families Comment Labour’s manifesto promises free breakfast clubs in all primary schools. This comment examines possible benefits and challenges with the policy. 25 June 2024
The state of education: what awaits the next government? Report The next government will inherit a mixed legacy: England is one of the world’s top performers in school attainment but there are deep inequalities. 6 June 2024
Takeaways and meal delivery grew by more than 50% during the pandemic – and have stayed high thereafter Press Release Before the pandemic, the average adult consumed around 270 calories a week from takeaways. 4 April 2024
Longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dietary purchasing choices of British households Report Takeaways and meal delivery grew by more than 50% during the pandemic – and have stayed high thereafter. 4 April 2024
Declining education performance in Scotland, particularly in maths and science Press Release The performance of Scottish pupils in international PISA tests has declined over time in maths and science. 16 November 2023
Socio-economic inequality in Scottish education Report We examine how less affluent students perform compared with their more affluent peers in PISA tests, ahead of the new data release in December 2023. 16 November 2023
Almost half of children saw their social and emotional skills worsen during the pandemic – and economic turbulence played a role Press Release Nearly half of parents (47%) reported that their child’s social and emotional skills had worsened during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 August 2023
Parental labour market instability and children's mental health during the pandemic Working Paper In this paper we study the impact of the COVID pandemic on the mental health of school-age children in England. 1 August 2023
How did parents’ experiences in the labour market shape children’s social and emotional development during the pandemic? Report Around 50% of families saw changes in labour market status during the COVID-19 pandemic. This impacted the emotional development of their children. 1 August 2023
Should government help low-income families get a healthy start? Comment How does the government's Healthy Start scheme work? 13 June 2023
Seven in ten school children on universal credit are not eligible for free school meals Press Release The expansion of free school meals has been frequently discussed. IFS researchers consider the costs and benefits of different options. 29 March 2023
The policy menu for school lunches: options and trade-offs in expanding free school meals in England Report The expansion of free school meals has been frequently discussed. IFS researchers consider the costs and benefits of different options. 29 March 2023
