Not only has the reduced system of council tax support hit low-paid workers but it has proved remarkably ineffective as a way to raise revenue, say the IFS’ Stuart Adam and Thomas Pope.
Authors
Stuart Adam
Senior Economist
Stuart is a Senior Economist working in the Tax sector, and focuses on analysing the design of the tax and benefit system.
Thomas Pope
Comment details
- Publisher
- Public Finance
Suggested citation
Adam, S and Pope, T. (2019). Support cuts hurt councils too [Comment] Public Finance. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/articles/support-cuts-hurt-councils-too (accessed: 27 April 2024).
More from IFS
Understand this issue
Cutting inheritance tax isn’t quite as simple as its proponents suggest
comment
"There are dozens of tax cuts that would be some combination of more equitable and better designed to promote economic efficiency and growth."
20 November 2023
Are councils in crisis?
podcast
Why are local councils facing funding pressures? What can government do to help them?
14 February 2024
A mess has been made of Child Benefit, and the clear-up operation may not be easy
comment
"Status quos can be hard to change, no matter how incoherent they are." Robert Joyce writes about child benefit in The Telegraph.
29 March 2024
Policy analysis
Recent trends in and the outlook for health-related benefits
report
Recipients of and spending on health-related benefits have risen rapidly since the start of the pandemic, posing a serious challenge for policymakers.
19 April 2024
4.2 million working-age people now claiming health-related benefits, could rise by 30% by the end of the decade
press release
Our new report sheds more light on forecasts for a substantial increase in the number of people claiming health-related benefits in coming years.
19 April 2024
The IFS Scottish Budget Report – 2024–25
report
This report looks at the key budgetary and public service issues for the Scottish Government for the 2024–25 financial year and beyond.
22 February 2024
Academic research
Unfunded mandates and taxation
journal article
In mid-2006, the Chinese central government increased the salaries and pensions of civil servants in its coastal areas but a funded mandate in others.
14 March 2024
The labor market effects of disability benefit loss
working paper
Leveraging age and health cutoffs in the reassessment, the paper estimates employment responses to loss or reduction of benefits.
29 September 2023
The menopause "penalty"
working paper
We estimate the effect of menopause diagnosis on employment and earnings, reliance on social safety net programs, and demand for medical care.
18 March 2024