Topics

Topics

Topics
Business and investment Consumption and prices Education and skills Employment and income Government finances and spending Health and social care International development Poverty, inequality and social mobility Research methods Savings, pensions and wealth Taxes and benefits
Collections
Student finance NHS waiting lists Levelling up Housing

Help me find something
Research and analysis
Research and analysis
Reports

Reports

Featured content
The Mirrlees Review

Comment

Working papers

Journals

Press releases

Presentations

Fiscal Studies

Data

Fiscal facts
Help me find something
Podcasts, explainers and calculators
Podcasts, explainers and calculators
Podcasts

Explainers

Calculators and tools

Calculators and tools

Additional resources
Fiscal facts Guides, manuals, software and more

Budget 2026: what should we expect?
podcast
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span>What should we expect from the October Budget? IFS economists discuss the choices facing the Chancellor on energy bills, taxes and public spending.</span></p>
22 October 2026
Is the Chancellor’s spending plan credible?
podcast
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span>Higher inflation, rising borrowing and potential spending cuts: what will the Chancellor’s first Budget mean for the economy and households today?</span></p>
15 October 2026
Are renewables making electricity more expensive?
podcast
<p>Why is electricity so expensive? We explore the role of renewables, the costs of decarbonisation and the future of Britain's energy system.</p>
8 October 2026
Additional resources
Guides, manuals, software and more Fiscal facts: public finances, tax and benefits
Help me find something
Events
Events
Events

Seminars

Annual lectures

Past presentations

Training courses

IFS Zooms In Live: A look ahead to the Budget
event 20 October 2026
<p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(37, 61, 64);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"DM Serif Text", serif;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">A special in-person recording of an episode of the IFS Zooms In podcast ahead of the Budget, looking at the choices facing the Chancellor.</span></p>
Autumn Budget 2026: IFS analysis
event 29 October 2026
<p>Join us as IFS researchers present their initial response to Chancellor John Healey's Autumn Budget.</p>
IFS Public Economics Day 2027
event 8 January 2027
<p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(37, 61, 64);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"DM Serif Text", serif;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">The IFS is holding a day of talks on issues in public economics of interest to undergraduates in economics and related disciplines.</span></p>
Help me find something
About
About
People

People

Research fellows

Research Associates

Former research staff

Visitors

Communications, finance and administration

Announcements

Governance

How we are funded

Impact

Jobs

Press office

History of the IFS

Contact

Jobs
landing page
<p>At IFS, we recruit and train top-quality economists and professional support staff. We 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.
Help me find something

Childcare: The newest branch of the welfare state

Christine Farquharson

Published on 6 February 2024

This presentation was given at the Nursery World Business Summit by Christine Farquharson on Friday 2nd February.

This presentation was given at the Nursery World Business Summit by Christine Farquharson on Friday 2nd February.

Authors

Chrsitine Farquharson

Christine Farquharson

Associate Director

Christine's research examines inequalities in children's education and health, especially in the early education and childcare sector.