Why is the government reforming health-related benefits? podcast<p>We discuss the government's welfare reforms aimed at helping sick and disabled people into work, and what the changes mean for health-related benefits</p>14 May 2025
What's the future of corporation tax? podcast<p><span style="color:black;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;">Corporation tax was introduced 60 years ago. Despite many predictions of its decline, it is now forecast to raise record amounts. </span></p>10 April 2025
Spring Statement 2025: IFS Zooms In podcast<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(13, 13, 13);counter-reset:list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0;cursor:text;font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"> What were the decisions and trade-offs made by Chancellor Reeves?</p>27 March 2025
IFS Annual Lecture: Trade Wars and the Future of Globalisation conference 20 May 2025 <p>Professor Meredith Crowley will deliver the 2025 <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;">IFS Annual Lecture. </span></p>
From Sure Start to Family Hubs: how can evidence best inform policymaking for joined up family support in the early years? conference 22 May 2025 <p>This event will explore the evidence and policy landscape around early years family support. It will also mark the launch of a new report from IFS.</p>
A look ahead to the 2025 Spending Review event 2 June 2025 <p><span data-teams="true">At this online event, researchers will present what the key choices will be at the Spending Review.</span></p>
Jobs landing page<p>At IFS, we recruit and train top-quality economists and professional support staff. We aim to 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.
Working in your 60s: a way to stay young for some CommentOn average, women who remained in work for longer following increases in the state pension age saw improved cognition and less physical disability.13 May 2025
Radical tax and spending plans are fine, but they must be realistic CommentThe rise of Reform and the Greens is healthy for democracy, but not if their manifestos are sheer fantasy 12 May 2025
Here’s a pension tweak for nudging civil servants to work past 60 CommentPublic sector pension rules are a mess that helps neither workers nor the government. Fixing them could be a win-win.28 April 2025
Today’s ONS figures highlight uncertainty around fiscal forecasts CommentPublic finance data out today show that borrowing overshot the official forecast made at last month's Spring Statement by £15 billion.23 April 2025
Drastic times need drastic action: breaking the 50-year tax taboo CommentRachel Reeves should consider increasing the basic rate, just as Denis Healey did in 1975 14 April 2025
Which places have the highest standard of living? CommentMeasuring living standards using average household spending gives a starkly different picture of regional inequalities than using average income.11 April 2025
Exploring regional differences in public spending across England CommentHow much does the government spend in each region of England and how does that compare with regional economic activity?10 April 2025
Scottish Fiscal Sustainability Report – immediate response CommentToday’s SFC report highlights the fiscal challenges facing the Scottish and UK governments over coming decades.8 April 2025
How aware are people of next year’s state pension age increase? CommentLarge numbers of people nearing retirement do not know their state pension age (SPA), creating risks especially as the SPA rises again next year.7 April 2025
How did tax credits transform the UK welfare system? CommentOver 20 years since they were introduced, tax credits have now been replaced by universal credit. How did they change the UK welfare system?4 April 2025
Combined impact of minimum wage and tax increases may reduce opportunities for young people CommentUpcoming increases in the minimum wage and employer NICs could make it harder for young people entering the labour force.1 April 2025
Cut aid and benefits to boost defence? The sums don’t quite add up CommentThe tortured maths behind the chancellor’s fiscal headroom suggest her ‘ironclad’ fiscal rules are having unintended consequences on real-world policy31 March 2025
Enlisting consumers in tax enforcement: a policy review CommentThis paper examines the rise of consumer incentives in tax enforcement and the conditions under which they can enhance compliance and raise revenue.31 March 2025
New data suggest dramatic decline in living standards, but it may just be the quality of the data that has declined CommentThe latest official statistics on household incomes show dramatic falls, but there is reason to doubt their reliability.27 March 2025
Spring Statement 2025: initial IFS response CommentIn response to deteriorating global economic conditions, Rachel Reeves chose to fine-tune her spending plans to continue to meet her fiscal rules. 26 March 2025
Today’s ONS figures reinforce challenges for next week’s Spring Statement CommentToday, the Office for National Statistics published new figures on government revenues, spending and borrowing.21 March 2025
The NHS may have to prioritise the less sick to recover elective performance CommentModelling of NHS waiting times shows increased activity, demand reduction, and patient prioritisation needed to meet the 18-week waiting time target.20 March 2025
IFS response to announced reforms to disability and incapacity benefits CommentThe reforms announced today, to be implemented or consulted on, represent a fundamental change to the way that the state supports out-of-work people.18 March 2025
The chancellor cannot hide for ever from her big political choice CommentRachel Reeves gives herself so little room for manoeuvre that she creates costly uncertainty when the choice is obvious: raise taxes or cut spending 17 March 2025
Two-child limit mitigation in Scotland would help larger poor families but policy design could harm work incentives CommentMitigating the two-child limit policy would be an effective way to reduce child poverty, but designing an effective policy is not straightforward. 14 March 2025
Commentary: all content
Showing 1 – 20 of 1289 results
Working in your 60s: a way to stay young for some
On average, women who remained in work for longer following increases in the state pension age saw improved cognition and less physical disability.
13 May 2025
Radical tax and spending plans are fine, but they must be realistic
The rise of Reform and the Greens is healthy for democracy, but not if their manifestos are sheer fantasy
12 May 2025
Here’s a pension tweak for nudging civil servants to work past 60
Public sector pension rules are a mess that helps neither workers nor the government. Fixing them could be a win-win.
28 April 2025
Today’s ONS figures highlight uncertainty around fiscal forecasts
Public finance data out today show that borrowing overshot the official forecast made at last month's Spring Statement by £15 billion.
23 April 2025
Drastic times need drastic action: breaking the 50-year tax taboo
Rachel Reeves should consider increasing the basic rate, just as Denis Healey did in 1975
14 April 2025
Which places have the highest standard of living?
Measuring living standards using average household spending gives a starkly different picture of regional inequalities than using average income.
11 April 2025
Exploring regional differences in public spending across England
How much does the government spend in each region of England and how does that compare with regional economic activity?
10 April 2025
Scottish Fiscal Sustainability Report – immediate response
Today’s SFC report highlights the fiscal challenges facing the Scottish and UK governments over coming decades.
8 April 2025
How aware are people of next year’s state pension age increase?
Large numbers of people nearing retirement do not know their state pension age (SPA), creating risks especially as the SPA rises again next year.
7 April 2025
How did tax credits transform the UK welfare system?
Over 20 years since they were introduced, tax credits have now been replaced by universal credit. How did they change the UK welfare system?
4 April 2025
Combined impact of minimum wage and tax increases may reduce opportunities for young people
Upcoming increases in the minimum wage and employer NICs could make it harder for young people entering the labour force.
1 April 2025
Cut aid and benefits to boost defence? The sums don’t quite add up
The tortured maths behind the chancellor’s fiscal headroom suggest her ‘ironclad’ fiscal rules are having unintended consequences on real-world policy
31 March 2025
Enlisting consumers in tax enforcement: a policy review
This paper examines the rise of consumer incentives in tax enforcement and the conditions under which they can enhance compliance and raise revenue.
31 March 2025
New data suggest dramatic decline in living standards, but it may just be the quality of the data that has declined
The latest official statistics on household incomes show dramatic falls, but there is reason to doubt their reliability.
27 March 2025
Spring Statement 2025: initial IFS response
In response to deteriorating global economic conditions, Rachel Reeves chose to fine-tune her spending plans to continue to meet her fiscal rules.
26 March 2025
Today’s ONS figures reinforce challenges for next week’s Spring Statement
Today, the Office for National Statistics published new figures on government revenues, spending and borrowing.
21 March 2025
The NHS may have to prioritise the less sick to recover elective performance
Modelling of NHS waiting times shows increased activity, demand reduction, and patient prioritisation needed to meet the 18-week waiting time target.
20 March 2025
IFS response to announced reforms to disability and incapacity benefits
The reforms announced today, to be implemented or consulted on, represent a fundamental change to the way that the state supports out-of-work people.
18 March 2025
The chancellor cannot hide for ever from her big political choice
Rachel Reeves gives herself so little room for manoeuvre that she creates costly uncertainty when the choice is obvious: raise taxes or cut spending
17 March 2025
Two-child limit mitigation in Scotland would help larger poor families but policy design could harm work incentives
Mitigating the two-child limit policy would be an effective way to reduce child poverty, but designing an effective policy is not straightforward.
14 March 2025