Government finances and spending

A top priority for any government is putting in place policies which foster economic growth. Given current circumstances it is perhaps not surprising that the focus is on how to promote growth in the short term.

It has been reported that the education secretary is planning radical reforms to GCSEs in England. With this year's GCSE results out tomorrow, IFS researchers examine the desirability of these potential reforms and whether they would actually represent a substantial change compared with the current system. The evidence also raises a third and more fundamental question: what are GCSEs for?

This presentation was given at HMRC on 24 July 2012 to an audience of more than 80 civil servants from across government departments.

There is growing interest in how behavioural economics can be used effectively by policymakers. This observation considers some of the broad implications of behavioural insights for tax and benefit policy, drawing on new IFS research which explores the issues for particular aspects of policy in this area.

The OBR's second fiscal sustainability report, published today, reminds us of the significant challenges which we face as a result of the spending pressures created by population ageing and a likely loss of tax revenues from motoring and north sea oil and gas companies. We need to respond to this analysis by planning now for the changes to spending and taxes that will be required.

Official figures published today show, for the first time, estimated spending outturns by Whitehall departments for 2011-12. Despite most seeing their budgets cut between 2010-11 and 2011-12, Whitehall departments have underspent their allocations by an estimated £5.3 billion. In this observation we set out which departments did not spend their allocations.

The NHS is experiencing its tightest financial period for more than 50 years: researchers from the Institute for Fiscal Studies look at the options available.

Presentation to the CIPFA Annual Conference: Chief Financial Officers' Summit in Liverpool 3rd July 2012

Presentation to Yorkshire & Humber Local Government Finance Officers' Network in Wakefield

This presentation was given at the launch of a special issue of Fiscal Studies on 29 June 2012.

This presentation was given in Washington DC to World Bank economists on 28 June 2012.

Presentation on the public finances to a conference of the "Economics, Business and Enterprise Association". It was hosted at the Bank of England on 27th June 2012

Made to Pensions Research Network, University of Westminster 22 June 2012

Presentation at Economics National Teachers' Conference: The UK Economy, London, 20th June 2012