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
The number of new disability benefit claimants has doubled in a year Press ReleaseThe number of working-age people newly awarded disability benefits doubled between July 2021 and July 2022. This report investigates that increase. 7 December 2022
IFS Deputy Research Director Sonya Krutikova awarded Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship AnnouncementSonya Krutikova has been awarded a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship for 2023–2025.25 November 2022
UK ethnic minorities seeing sharp progress in education, but wages and wealth lag behind Press ReleaseHowever, big differences remain between ethnic minority groups, new IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities chapter shows14 November 2022
Funding for the early years likely to fall by 8% up to 2024 as a result of faster-than-expected cost rises Press Release"Early years providers are facing rapidly rising costs that are eroding the value of their budgets."11 November 2022
Wealth is the growing economic divide in the UK today Press Release"While income remains important, it is wealth that is increasingly at the heart of the most pressing economic inequalities today."9 November 2022
IFS response to new public finance figures Press Release"A key focus for the next Prime Minister and their chosen Chancellor needs to be fiscal responsibility."21 October 2022
Lively Minds one of ten finalists for LEGO foundation ‘Build a World of Play’ award AnnouncementThe LEGO foundation’s initiative will award approximately 117 million USD to five organisations solving the early childhood development crisis.20 October 2022
Public service cuts and disjointed funding systems for local services put ‘Levelling Up’ in danger Press ReleaseA new report out today finds that the current funding systems for schools, councils, public health and the police are ‘not fit for purpose’.20 October 2022
Call for papers: WASH economics conference 2023 AnnouncementAbstract submissions are now open for a new academic conference focused on the economics of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). 19 October 2022
An immediate response to the Scottish Government’s paper on independence and the Scottish economy Press ReleaseThe Scottish Government has today published a blueprint for economic policy post-independence.17 October 2022
Monetary policy techniques add to strains on the public finances: reforms could bring big benefits, but costs too Press ReleaseSir Paul Tucker writes for the IFS Green Budget on how rising interest rates, quantitative easing and current monetary policy techniques interact.14 October 2022
With a weaker economy, getting government finances on a sustainable path without cancelling tax cuts could force Chancellor into big and painful spending cuts Press ReleaseKwasi Kwarteng would need to announce a fiscal tightening of more than £60 billion just to stabilise debt as a fraction of national income in 2026–27.11 October 2022
Even if real pay is cut by 5%, public sector workforce may need to be cut by more than 200,000 by 2024 to stay within current spending plans Press ReleasePublic sector workers will receive pay awards of around 5% this year, on average.8 October 2022
For every £1 given to households through headline cuts to taxes, £2 is being taken away in stealthy freezes Press ReleaseBy 2025–26 these freezes take away £2 for every £1 given to households through the headline personal tax cuts. 6 October 2022
IFS response to U-turn on plan to cut 45p income tax rate Press Release"The Chancellor still has a lot of work to do if he is to display a credible commitment to fiscal sustainability."3 October 2022
Reversing NICs and corporation tax rises, as economic growth stalls, would leave debt on an unsustainable path Press ReleaseThe Energy Price Guarantee was announced to Parliament without any government estimates of what its cost might be.21 September 2022
Professor Imran Rasul takes over as Director of the Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy (CPP) at IFS Announcement Professor Sir Richard Blundell is stepping down after 31 years in the role.1 September 2022
IFS Research Associate Dr Antonella Bancalari receives Fulbright-Royal Society of Edinburgh Scholarship AnnouncementIFS Research Associate Dr Antonella Bancalari has recieved the Fulbright-Royal Society of Edinburgh Award.22 August 2022
Deteriorating outlook for the public finances amid heightened uncertainty casts doubt on plausibility of promises of large permanent tax cuts Press ReleaseThe two candidates for Prime Minister need to recognise the even greater than usual uncertainty in the public finances.18 August 2022
Lack of progress on closing educational inequalities disadvantaging millions throughout life Press ReleaseNew research finds that disadvantaged pupils start school behind their better-off peers and the education system is not closing these gaps.16 August 2022
