How to fix UK pensions? podcast<p>Can the UK pensions system deliver a decent standard of living in retirement? We explore the challenges and changes needed.</p>4 July 2025
The policy that changed childhood in the UK podcast<p>What was Sure Start, what impact did it have, and why does it still matter? We speak to Christine Farquharson and Ed Balls to find out.</p>26 June 2025
What's gone wrong in the Crown Courts? podcast<p>Delays in serious court cases are at record highs. We ask why the Crown Court backlog is growing—and if more money alone can solve it.</p>19 June 2025
Labour’s first year in power: is this still a mission-driven government? event 15 July 2025 <p>Join the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Institute for Government to discuss Labour's first year in power.</p>
Jobs landing page<p>At IFS, we recruit and train top-quality economists and professional support staff. We aim to foster a respectful and inclusive working environment.</p>20 July 2022
Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy The Research Centre at the heart of IFS is the CPP.
Intergenerational altruism and transfers of time and money: a life cycle perspective Working Paper We find that parental time investments increase children's human capital, but parents also enjoy time spent with children more than work. 1 July 2025
The short- and medium-term effects of Sure Start on children’s outcomes Report An evaluation of Sure Start’s impacts on education, health, absences, special educational needs, crime and social care, plus a cost–benefit analysis. 22 May 2025
Complementarities in the production of child health Journal article Journal of Human Capital We show that water, sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) and nutrition are complements in the formation of child height and weight. 2 April 2025
Rethinking the Education Maintenance Allowance: Lessons from a long-term analysis Comment This evidence should prompt us to look beyond simple financial incentives for classroom attendance. 10 March 2025
The short- and long-run effects of the Education Maintenance Allowance Report This report studies the long-run effect of the Education Maintenance Allowance on educational attainment, earnings and crime. 26 February 2025
The short- and long-run effects of paying disadvantaged teenagers to go to school Working Paper This working paper studies the long-run effect of a cash transfer to disadvantaged students on educational attainment, earnings and crime. 26 February 2025
Do tariffs work? Podcast We discuss the economic consequences of tariffs, why governments use them, and whether they actually achieve their intended goals. 23 January 2025
How cuts to youth clubs affected teen crime and education Comment Teenagers affected by austerity-induced youth club closures performed 4% worse in exams at age 16 and became 14% more likely to commit crimes. 13 November 2024
Health shocks, health insurance, human capital, and the dynamics of earnings and health Working Paper We specify and calibrate a life-cycle model of labor supply and savings incorporating health shocks and medical treatment decisions. 21 October 2024
Change in number of further education and skills courses completed between 2018–19 and 2022–23, by local authority Data Item Areas with the lowest levels of skill have seen biggest fall in the number of further education and skills courses completed. 19 June 2024
How do the last five years measure up on levelling up? Report How well – or badly – has the UK fared on the 12 levelling up missions? We examine early progress and the scale of the challenge ahead. 19 June 2024
Labour’s ‘Growth and Skills’ levy would give more flexibility to firms – but employers would still need to get on board Comment How might Labour’s proposal to broaden the Apprenticeship Levy into a ‘Growth and Skills’ Levy affect training rates, especially for young people? 1 June 2024
Labour markets, families and human capital: A workshop in honour of Costas Meghir Workshop 3 May 2024 at 09:30 This one day workshop will celebrate the many contributions to economics of Professor Costas Meghir.
If you can’t see it, you can’t be it: role models influence female junior doctors’ choice of medical specialty Comment Working alongside a greater share of senior women specialists during an early-career placement influences junior women’s own specialty choice. 24 April 2024
Sure Start achieved its aims, then we threw it away Comment "We know that poor children grow up with poor life chances. We know how to ameliorate that. The choice is ours." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 15 April 2024
The short- and medium-term impacts of Sure Start on educational outcomes Report We study the medium-run effect of Sure Start on academic outcomes, finding large benefits, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. 9 April 2024
Major challenges for education in Wales Report This 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
Behind the numbers: reassessing investment in skills and training Comment "There are concrete steps, such as reforming the Apprenticeship Levy, that the government should take to improve the existing skills system." 12 October 2023
Investment in training and skills Report The UK has seen a significant decline in investment in adult education and training. This chapter analyses how the skills system should be reformed. 12 October 2023
How did parents’ experiences in the labour market shape children’s social and emotional development during the pandemic? Report Around 50% of families saw changes in labour market status during the COVID-19 pandemic. This impacted the emotional development of their children. 1 August 2023