Podcasts

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.

What makes a good job? This episode explores pay, progression, flexibility and why access to better work is unequal.

We ask why the UK has such large regional divides, how they emerged, and what policymakers can realistically do to fix them.

Why do people care about inequality, and what do they want government to do about it?

We set out the facts on UK inequality, from income and wealth to opportunity, health and place.

Britain faces high debt, high borrowing costs, rising taxes and stretched public services. We explain the fiscal reality facing any government.

Why UK electricity prices are so high, how renewables affect costs, and what government can do to protect households from shocks.

What does local government do, why are councils under financial pressure, and how might reform change the future of local services?

A look at Welsh funding, tax powers, public services and the hard fiscal trade-offs facing whoever forms the next government.

Scotland has more funding and more powers, but the next Holyrood government still faces tough choices on tax, spending and public services.

As the state pension age rises to 67, we ask who can keep working longer, who cannot, and what the future of retirement looks like.

Are pensioners now better off than working-age people? We examine the data on income, wealth, housing and the future of retirement.

Spring Forecast: headline numbers look steady but higher energy prices could lift UK inflation, rates and borrowing faster than expected.

Why UK fiscal rules drive “headroom” politics, policy churn and rising debt, and how a dashboard approach could improve sustainability and debate.

Student loans now top £50k for many graduates. We explain how repayments work, who pays most, and whether the system is 'unfair'.

Inflation is down from its peak, but prices still feel high. What caused the spike, are we near 2%, and what happens next?

The UK minimum wage has increased by more than 70% in real terms since 1999. What’s it doing to jobs, prices and profits - and what happens next?

Why isn’t the NHS improving faster? We unpack waiting lists, winter pressures, productivity and reform plans - and ask whether real change is coming.

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