Comment

IFS Director Paul Johnson responds to the overall picture for taxation, spending and the public finances in the Autumn 2024 Budget.

Until the Great Recession in 2008, the British economy was growing.

Rachel Reeves needs to deliver a clear statement of intent for the remainder of this government’s time in office

This blog was originally published on odi.org on 23 October 2024 here, and is reproduced with kind permission.

Why do so few people move from incapacity benefits into work? What does this mean for government plans to get more people working?

The chancellor should focus on the tax base and close loopholes to make the system fairer

David Phillips says that even if chancellor Rachel Reeves manages to avoid making cuts, councils will still need a laser-like focus on efficiency

Changing the measure of debt could free up billions for investment, but it’s not a risk-free move

The government is reportedly considering a change to the debt rule to allow for more borrowing for investment. We consider some of the options.

We use detailed data on price and spending patterns for groceries to assess the relative impacts of inflation across rich and poor households.

"Perceptions take a while to catch up with reality and that presents a challenge for the new government." Paul Johnson writes for The Times.