Christine Farquharson

Is university still worth the cost? We examine graduate earnings, student debt, course value and who really benefits from getting a degree.

Are people saving enough for retirement? We examine pension contributions, the self-employed and the risks of accessing pensions too early.

Andy Burnham faces difficult choices over tax, borrowing and public spending. How much room will the new Prime Minister have to act?

Could devolution boost UK growth, or would it widen regional divides? We ask what shifting power from Westminster would really mean.

The IFS-Deaton Review’s final workshop, where we explored the review's findings and their policy implications in the UK context.

Drawing on the IFS Deaton Review of inequalities, this report sets out a policy toolkit and applications to education, jobs, geography and wealth.

A manifesto pledging a bigger welfare state with or without independence, but which fails to properly confront the fiscal implications of its plans

A manifesto with big tax and bigger spending increases – and a mixed bag of tax reforms.

A focus on improving existing services rather than new entitlements or tax cuts

A manifesto with more support for families with children, but important question marks over how to fund its giveaways.

A plan for big tax cuts that is costed on paper, but which may not survive contact with reality.

A manifesto with a vision for a bigger state but no detail on how to pay for it.

A manifesto with more spending for priorities, but which also increases the chance of cuts to some other areas.

Christine Farquharson's presentation to Nursery World Business Summit

The online launch of 2026 IFS Annual Report on Education Spending in England, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

Education spending in England is at a crossroads: tight budgets, escalating pressures, and shifting demographics.

This annual report compares spending across different stages of education in England and analyses the pressures and choices facing policymakers.

What are IFS experts looking out for in 2026? We discuss rising unemployment, benefit reforms, and whether new technologies might improve the outlook.