The IFS Green Budget: January 2008

Chapter 1: SUMMARY

Chapter 2: THE PUBLIC FINANCES UNDER LABOUR

2.1 Introduction: Labour's fiscal objectives
2.2 Labour's inheritance
2.3 Labour's record to date
2.4 Performance relative to the Conservatives
2.5 Labour's plans and forecasts
2.6 Uncertainty and the Treasury's fiscal forecasts
2.7 Conclusion

Chapter 3: THE FISCAL RULES AND POLICY FRAMEWORK

3.1 Introduction
3.2 The golden rule
3.3 The sustainable investment rule
3.4 Reforming the rules: a golden opportunity?

Chapter 4: THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Recent developments and near-term outlook
4.3 Trend growth and the economic cycle
4.4 The next five years: two scenarios

Chapter 5: GREEN BUDGET PUBLIC FINANCE FORECASTS

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Short-term projections
5.3 Medium-term prospects
5.4 Alternative macroeconomic assumptions
5.5 The fiscal rules and the budget judgement

Chapter 6: FUNDING, DEBT MANAGEMENT, AND CREDIT MARKET PROBLEMS

6.1 Introduction
6.2 The likely scale of debt issuance
6.3 Government debt and the money market crisis
6.4 Optimal debt management
6.5 Government policy and the 'credit crunch'
6.6 Mortgages and mortgage financing - the role of indexation
6.7 Conclusion

Chapter 7: PRESSURES ON PUBLIC SPENDING

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Trends in aggregate public spending under Labour
7.3 Trends in key areas of public spending
7.4 Conclusion

Chapter 8: PUBLIC SECTOR PAY AND PENSIONS

8.1 Introduction
8.2 The public sector pay bill and workforce
8.3 Public sector pay trends and levels
8.4 Public sector pensions
8.5 Public sector pay policy and inflation
8.6 Pay review bodies
8.7 Conclusion

Chapter 9: AVIATION TAXES

9.1 Introduction
9.2 Economic principles of aviation taxation
9.3 Air passenger duty
9.4 Aviation duty: illustrative options for reform
9.5 Issues in aviation tax reform
9.6 Conclusion

Chapter 10: CAPITAL GAINS TAX

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Background
10.3 CGT design and the proposed reform
10.4 Managing transition
10.5 The policymaking process
10.6 Conclusion
10.7 Postscript: entrepreneurs' relief

Chapter 11: CORPORATION TAX AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

11.1 Introduction
11.2 Corporation tax rates and entrepreneurship
11.3 Conclusion

Chapter 12: TAXATION OF COMPANIES' FOREIGN PROFITS

12.1 Introduction
12.2 The current UK system
12.3 Principles guiding the taxation of foreign profits
12.4 The June 2007 proposals
12.5 Implications of the proposed exemption system
12.6 Conclusion

Chapter 13: TAX SIMPLIFICATION

13.1 Introduction
13.2 A 10-yearly simplification cycle?
13.3 Recent 'simplifications' in practice
13.4 Conclusion

Chapter 14: THE IMPACT OF TAX AND BENEFIT REFORMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN APRIL 2008

14.1 Introduction
14.2 The changes due in April 2008
14.3 The impact on effective marginal tax rates
14.4 Winners and losers
14.5 The impact of tax and benefit changes since 1997
14.6 Conclusion

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Forecasting public finances
Appendix B: Headline tax and benefit rates and thresholds

© The Institute for Fiscal Studies, January 2008