The £600 billion problem awaiting the next government podcastWe speak to David Gauke and Giles Wilkes, two experts who have been at the heart of the spending review process.25 April 2024
Be the Chancellor Our interactive tool lets you be the Chancellor. Change spending plans, set tax policies and see how your choices impact borrowing and debt.
Should we worry about government debt? podcastDavid Miles joins us to discuss high government debt and its impact on the economy. 11 April 2024
IFS Annual Lecture - Innovation and productivity policies: a budgetary perspective event 15 May 2024 Professor Heidi Williams (Dartmouth College) will deliver the 2024 IFS Annual Lecture on innovation and productivity policies.
Higher Education Access and Funding: challenges and policy options conference 14 May 2024 This one-day academic conference will look at access to and funding of Higher Education systems.
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
Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy The Research Centre at the heart of IFS is the CPP.
4.2 million working-age people now claiming health-related benefits, could rise by 30% by the end of the decade Press ReleaseOur new report sheds more light on forecasts for a substantial increase in the number of people claiming health-related benefits in coming years.19 April 2024
New tax year gives mechanical boost to Chancellor’s ‘headroom’: he should resist the urge to spend it Press ReleaseNew interactive ‘Be the Chancellor’ tool launched today demonstrates the trade-offs and fiscal challenge awaiting the next government.16 April 2024
Sure Start greatly improved disadvantaged children’s GCSE results Press ReleaseNew research from IFS finds that Sure Start generated big improvements in the educational performance of children from low-income backgrounds.9 April 2024
Takeaways and meal delivery grew by more than 50% during the pandemic – and have stayed high thereafter Press ReleaseBefore the pandemic, the average adult consumed around 270 calories a week from takeaways. 4 April 2024
Gap between higher- and lower-paid public sector workers falls by more than a third since 2007 as doctors and experienced teachers have faced unprecedented pay cuts Press ReleaseHow has public sector pay changed in recent years? Which type of workers have done better and which have done worse?26 March 2024
Sliding education results and high inequalities should prompt big rethink in Welsh education policy Press ReleaseThis report examines the major challenges for education in Wales, including low outcomes across a range of measures and high levels of inequality.21 March 2024
New statistics show large increases in material deprivation and food insecurity during cost-of-living crisis, which headline poverty measures do not reflect Press ReleaseHeadline poverty rates in 2022-23 were similar to 2019-20 levels, but other measures of material wellbeing tell a different story.21 March 2024
IFS Deputy Director Carl Emmerson made a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences AnnouncementDeputy Director Carl Emmerson has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.4 March 2024
Getting English NHS waiting lists down to pre-pandemic levels is highly unlikely within the next parliament Press ReleaseNHS performance will be a key election issue. We examine how NHS waiting lists have changed in the past and how they could change in the future.29 February 2024
If the Chancellor wants to cut taxes, he should tell us where the spending cuts will fall Press ReleaseHow might the outlook for the public finances change and how should the Chancellor’s tax and spending plans change in response in the Budget?27 February 2024
January usually sees the government run an overall surplus, as this is the month when a large chunk of self-assessment receipts is paid Press ReleaseToday’s ONS government borrowing figures suggest that the public sector ran a surplus of £16.7 billion in January.21 February 2024
Scottish Government boosts support for students’ living costs, but further cuts funding for universities to teach them Press ReleaseHow much does the Scottish Government spend on higher education, and what challenges does it face on university funding and living cost support? 20 February 2024
Scottish NHS is treating fewer patients than pre-pandemic, despite big increases in staffing Press ReleaseThe COVID-19 pandemic is having long-lasting impacts on NHS hospital activity, productivity and performance in Scotland, despite higher funding.9 February 2024
Scottish Budget implies real-terms cuts to health spending – a fact not revealed in official documentation Press ReleaseThe Scottish Government is raising taxes on the 5% highest-income Scots, but health funding is, on current plans, set to fall in real terms next year.6 February 2024
Itay Saporta Eksten visits IFS AnnouncementWe are pleased to welcome Professor Itay Saporta Eksten as a visitor to the IFS for the next eighteen months.31 January 2024
IFS Director Paul Johnson awarded honorary doctorate degree from University of Sussex AnnouncementIFS Director Paul Johnson has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree from University of Sussex. 26 January 2024
The next government will face some of the toughest choices in generations Press ReleaseOur programme of 2024 general election work begins, with the need for parties to be honest about the tough trade-offs they inevitably have to make.25 January 2024
Interest rate rises increase the expected annual cost to government of student loans by more than £10 billion Press Release"The loss of more than £10 billion per year is not being captured in official figures."9 January 2024
IFS responds to provisional Local Government Finance Settlement Press ReleaseOur initial response to the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25.18 December 2023
A better way forward for the state pension – a ‘four-point pension guarantee’ Press ReleaseThe current state pension has many strengths, not least its simplicity. But research by the Pensions Review indicates several problems. 13 December 2023
