Why we need to reform inheritance tax podcastWe discuss the issues with inheritance tax and how to reform it.6 December 2023
The Autumn Statement 2023 explained in 90 seconds explainerPaul Johnson responds to Jeremy Hunt's 2023 Autumn Statement. 22 November 2023
Cake or biscuit? The UK's byzantine VAT system explained podcastThis week, we dive into the oddities of the VAT system.16 November 2023
Education spending: an engine for levelling-up? event 11 December 2023 The launch of the 2023 IFS Annual Report on Education Spending in England, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Social mobility and wealth conference 12 December 2023 At this in-person event, IFS researchers will share findings from ESRC-funded research on social mobility and its drivers.
Where next for the state pension? event 13 December 2023 At this online event, IFS researchers will present findings from a major new report on the future of the state pension in the UK.
Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy landing pageThe ESRC has funded a research centre at IFS since 1991, recognised as a global centre of excellence and now with UKRI Research Institute status.15 July 2022
Jobs landing pageAt IFS, we recruit and train top-quality economists and professional support staff. We aim to foster a respectful and inclusive working environment.20 July 2022
Abolishing inheritance tax would leave the country a terrible legacy Comment"I despair." Paul Johnson writes for the Times on the recent debate around abolishing inheritance tax. 17 July 2023
Recent changes to universal credit have much smaller effect on poverty than £20 uplift CommentAbsolute poverty fell from 17.9% to 16.8% in the first year of the pandemic, due to rising benefit receipts.9 July 2023
Things go swimmingly for those generations who shout the loudest Comment"Right now, it is younger generations who are again bearing the brunt of economic failure." Paul Johnson writes for The Times.3 July 2023
The impact of junior doctor strikes on patient outcomes CommentA recent study looks at the impact of junior doctor strikes in the English NHS.27 June 2023
Interest rate hikes could see 1.4 million people lose 20% of their disposable income CommentWith the Bank of England’s base rate expected to increase on 22nd June, how are rising interest rates affecting households with mortgages?21 June 2023
Don’t cheer end of earnings squeeze: there is more pain to come CommentPaul Johnson writes for The Times on the pain to come for households and the public finances.19 June 2023
Should government help low-income families get a healthy start? CommentHow does the government's Healthy Start scheme work? 13 June 2023
Government spending has long been targeted at the poorest in our society CommentPaul Johnson writes for The Times on how taking account of public service spending is critical to assessing the government's redistribution of wealth.5 June 2023
Why saving for a pension has become more risky Comment"Many working-age people may not realise just how much risk they are facing when it comes to ensuring financial security in retirement."5 June 2023
Public service spending has become significantly more progressive since the 1980s CommentChanges in the composition of spending and rising education participation mean public service spending is more progressive than in the 1980s & 1990s.31 May 2023
An immediate response to the Scottish Government’s MTFS CommentUpdated funding and spending projections show a significant funding gap looming for the Scottish Government – and little sense of how to address it.25 May 2023
Remote working is probably here to stay, and these are the reasons why Comment"Let’s try to shed some light into a heated debate." Paul Johnson writes for the Times on the evidence on working from home and hybrid working.22 May 2023
Turbocharged tax increases reveal PM’s lack of options Comment"My bet is that the tax burden will not get back to its pre-2020 levels for many decades, if ever." Paul Johnson writes for the Times on tax rises.17 May 2023
Improving financial security in retirement CommentIt is estimated that fewer than one in five self-employed people are currently saving into a pension. An article by Alistair Darling and David Gauke16 May 2023
The three problems at the heart of Britain’s impending retirement disaster CommentAn honest look at pension planning is needed amid longer life expectancies and NHS pressures16 May 2023
Lots more people are working, but in jobs that keep them in poverty Comment"As well as a continuing focus on making sure people can get into work, we also need to look at the quality of work." Paul Johnson in the Times.8 May 2023
How big is the teacher pay offer in England? CommentThe government’s new pay offer for teachers in England is mostly funded, but will still leave teachers facing large real-terms salary cuts since 20102 May 2023
As the state gets bigger, taxes will rise. It’s time to be honest about that CommentWinston Churchill, a man of famously expensive habits, believed that income should always be adjusted to meet expenses, and never the other way around28 April 2023
We must act now to prevent a real pensions crisis developing in future Comment"If we are to avoid sleepwalking into a future much worse than the present, we need to start acting now." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 24 April 2023
What impact did lowering the benefit cap have? CommentDWP study finds that lowering the benefit cap led to some moving into paid work, some moving onto an exempting disability benefit and some moving home20 April 2023
Commentary: all content
Showing 41 – 60 of 1124 results
Abolishing inheritance tax would leave the country a terrible legacy
17 July 2023
Recent changes to universal credit have much smaller effect on poverty than £20 uplift
9 July 2023
Things go swimmingly for those generations who shout the loudest
3 July 2023
The impact of junior doctor strikes on patient outcomes
27 June 2023
Interest rate hikes could see 1.4 million people lose 20% of their disposable income
21 June 2023
Don’t cheer end of earnings squeeze: there is more pain to come
19 June 2023
Should government help low-income families get a healthy start?
13 June 2023
Government spending has long been targeted at the poorest in our society
5 June 2023
Why saving for a pension has become more risky
5 June 2023
Public service spending has become significantly more progressive since the 1980s
31 May 2023
An immediate response to the Scottish Government’s MTFS
25 May 2023
Remote working is probably here to stay, and these are the reasons why
22 May 2023
Turbocharged tax increases reveal PM’s lack of options
17 May 2023
Improving financial security in retirement
16 May 2023
The three problems at the heart of Britain’s impending retirement disaster
16 May 2023
Lots more people are working, but in jobs that keep them in poverty
8 May 2023
How big is the teacher pay offer in England?
2 May 2023
As the state gets bigger, taxes will rise. It’s time to be honest about that
28 April 2023
We must act now to prevent a real pensions crisis developing in future
24 April 2023
What impact did lowering the benefit cap have?
20 April 2023