Election Special: Your questions answered podcastIn the final run up to the election, we answer your questions about everything from borrowing to AI to the part that luck plays in the economy. 27 June 2024
Election Special: The Labour manifesto explained podcastWe discuss the Labour manifesto launched on Thursday and give our reaction to the policies and pledges within it.14 June 2024
Election Special: The Conservative manifesto explained podcastWe discuss the Conservative manifesto launched on Tuesday and give our reaction to the policies and pledges within it.12 June 2024
General Election 2024: IFS manifesto analysis event 24 June 2024 IFS researchers and Director Paul Johnson will deliver their analysis of the parties' manifestos at a live-streamed press briefing.
Inaugural IFS postdoc workshop workshop 4 July 2024 This academic workshop on applied public and labour economics will feature presentations by alumni of the IFS postdoc scheme.
Living standards, poverty and inequality in the UK: 2024 event 25 July 2024 This online event will present the key findings from our latest flagship annual report on living standards, poverty and inequality in the UK.
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.
What is the outlook for English councils’ funding? Report Cuts to some council services are likely unless spending pressures abate, even with big increases in council tax and especially in more deprived areas 21 June 2024
Election Special: Has 'levelling up' worked? Podcast We discuss 'levelling up' and local government and see how much progress has been made. We also analyse the SNP and Plaid Cymru manifestos. 21 June 2024
Cash and real-terms core council funding and funding per person (2010–11 = 100) Data Item Cash and real-terms core council funding and funding per person (2010–11 = 100) 7 June 2024
Gain/loss under the BRRS relative to equivalent total funding being allocated according to assessed spending needs, % of fiscal revenues, 2013–14 to 2019–20 (cumulative) Data Item Gain/loss under the BRRS relative to equivalent total funding being allocated according to assessed spending needs, % of fiscal revenues, 2013–14 to 2 7 June 2024
How have English councils’ funding and spending changed? 2010 to 2024 Report Increases in council funding over the last parliament have not reversed big cuts made during the 2010s, with spending on many services still down 40%. 7 June 2024
Council tax needs urgent reform – not being frozen in time in 1991 Comment The Conservatives have ruled out revaluing and reforming council tax in England as part of what they term their ‘Family Home Tax Guarantee’. 6 June 2024
Conservative plans to abolish the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help fund a new National Service scheme would hit poorest parts of the UK Comment Abolishing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund would see poorer parts of the UK lose hundreds of millions in funding – with Cornwall and Wales hardest hit. 29 May 2024
Council funding is a numbers game in which everybody is losing Comment "Local government finance is a mess that has been years in the making, but good luck trying to solve it." Paul Johnson writes for the Times. 13 May 2024
Unfunded mandates and taxation Journal article In 2006, the Chinese central government increased civil servant salaries and pensions and used either unfunded and funded mandates in different areas. 14 March 2024
What will the Budget mean for councils? Comment This comment published in The MJ looks at what the Chancellor's Spring Budget could mean for councils 27 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
Are councils in crisis? Podcast Why are local councils facing funding pressures? What can government do to help them? 14 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: 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
The economic, fiscal and funding outlook Presentation In this presentation to the LGA Finance Conference, IFS researchers look at the economic, fiscal and funding outlook for English councils. 15 January 2024
The 2024–25 local government finance settlement: the real pain is still to come Comment Councils are set to see a 6.5% increase in funding next year. While rising costs mean this won’t stretch that far, the real pain will hit from 2025 on 19 December 2023
What does the Autumn Statement mean for local government and public service spending? Comment Kate Ogden explains the impact of the Autumn Statement on public services, council funding and devolution deals. 24 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
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
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
