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.
Oil and gas make Scotland’s underlying public finances particularly volatile and uncertain Comment A fallback in oil and gas prices has hit Scotland’s underlying public finance position this year. 27 March 2024
Health spending planned to fall in England and Scotland in 2024–25, suggesting a top-up likely Comment Day-to-day spending on health in England is planned to fall in 2024–25 compared with the latest budgets for 2023–24. 4 March 2024
Scottish Budget 2024–25 Collection Read all our analysis of the Scottish Budget for 2024–25. 22 February 2024
The IFS Scottish Budget Report – 2024–25 Report This report looks at the key budgetary and public service issues for the Scottish Government for the 2024–25 financial year and beyond. 22 February 2024
Top-ups to the Scottish Budget for 2024–25 are likely – but huge uncertainty on their scale Comment More funding to top up the Scottish Government’s 2024–25 spending plans is likely to become available – but just how much is highly uncertain. 22 February 2024
Scottish Budget: Higher education spending Report How 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 Budget: Tax and spending in 2024–25 Report The 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
Scottish Budget: The medium-term outlook and choices Report Devolved income tax revenues are forecast to boost the Scottish Government’s funding over the next five years, but many services could still see cuts. 6 February 2024
Scottish Budget – further analysis of the Scottish Government’s spending decisions Comment We look at the Budget for 2024–25 and the latest spending and funding figures for the current financial year. 20 December 2023
Initial IFS response to the Scottish Budget Comment Our initial response to the Scottish Government’s budget for next year. 19 December 2023
Scottish universities and students are under pressure – and so is the Scottish budget Comment The Scottish Government is boosting support for students’ living costs, but funding for teaching, down 19% since 2013–14, is likely to fall further. 14 December 2023
Assessing the Welsh Government’s consultation on reforms to council tax Report We analyse the impact of the possible approaches to council tax reform set out in the Welsh Government’s consultation on ‘A fairer council tax’. 14 November 2023
Revaluation and reform of Welsh council tax should proceed without delay Comment We analyse the impact of the possible approaches to council tax reform set out in the Welsh Government’s consultation on ‘A fairer council tax’. 14 November 2023
The outlook for government and council funding Presentation This presentation to Scottish voluntary organisations looks at the funding outlook and issues facing the Scottish Government and councils. 5 October 2023
NI’s funding and spending Presentation This presentation looks at the NI Executive’s funding and spending – is it enough and can it be reformed? 19 September 2023
What are the options for devolved funding? Presentation This presentation looks at the issues and options for the Scottish Government’s funding, arguing that radical change requires reform in England too. 19 September 2023
Scottish council tax proposals are a small step in the right direction but duck the biggest issue: revaluation Comment Proposed reforms to council tax in Scotland would further reduce regressivity but should go further, and the issue of revaluation is ducked yet again. 11 September 2023
Higher oil & gas revenues boost Scotland’s underlying fiscal position – but a big deficit remains Comment Scotland’s notional fiscal deficit fell by £6 billion (3.8% of GDP) in 2022–23, but was – and is set to remain – much higher than the UK’s. 16 August 2023
An immediate response to the Scottish Fiscal Framework review Comment The revised Scottish Fiscal Framework will continue to redistribute income tax revenues from England and provides a little more financial flexibility. 2 August 2023
Earnings and income inequality in Scotland Presentation This presentation to the Royal Society of Edinburgh provides an early preview of upcoming work on labour market trends and inequalities in Scotland. 28 June 2023
