School funding reform: an empirical analysis of options for a national funding formula

Understand this issue

Election Special: The big issues politicians haven't spoken about

podcast

What are the manifestos missing? What are the big challenges facing us? And what information should voters be aware of as they head to the polls?

25 June 2024

Election Special: The government's record on tax

podcast

We look at changes to the size and shape of the state, and changes in the tax system. We also give our initial response to the Lib Dem manifesto.

10 June 2024

Tough questions will face the election winners

comment

"Whichever of the main parties forms the next government, it will need to cut spending or raise taxes or it will miss its own fiscal targets."

10 June 2024

Policy analysis

How should we interpret parties’ public spending pledges this election?

comment

Parties have pledged lots of ‘fully costed’ spending policies but these tell us little about the actual funding each public service might receive.

23 June 2024

How would the parties’ tax and spending plans affect Scotland and Wales?

report

This ‘explainer’ looks at how the parties’ proposals would affect Scotland and Wales, covering tax, spending, public finances and the constitution.

28 June 2024

Free breakfast clubs in schools: what Labour’s plans would mean for pupils and families

comment

Labour’s manifesto promises free breakfast clubs in all primary schools. This comment examines possible benefits and challenges with the policy.

25 June 2024

Academic research

6th World Bank/IFS/ODI Public Finance Conference | Driving Progress: Public Finance and Structural Transformation

conference 26 September 2024

We invite researchers from both academic and policy institutions to submit a paper or an extended abstract of two or more pages by April.

The intergenerational elasticity of earnings: Exploring the mechanisms

working paper

We use data covering a single cohort’s first 55 years of life to explain the differences in the intergenerational elasticity of earnings.

3 June 2024

Targeting men, women or both to reduce child marriage

working paper

We conduct a cluster-randomized control trial of an edutainment intervention aimed at delaying marriage of adolescent children in rural Pakistan.

28 May 2024