Incisive commentary from the IfG’s expert team on issues facing government and key ministerial decisions.
From analysis of key political events such as budgets and party conferences to snap responses to unexpected developments such as government reshuffles, our writers set out their views and analyse what government gets right, what it gets wrong, and what it can do better.
The changing structure of public spending – accident or design?
If we are back in the world of "boom and bust", we need to think about how our public finance frameworks operate in a world of large cyclical swings.
Public appointments: what role for parliament?
What are the risks and benefits of the public appointments system?
A smaller Whitehall must better manage its best talent
Whitehall should rethink its approach to how it manages Fast Streamers.
What to make of the Spending Review speech?
If there was a 'handbook of successful international deficit reductions', how would the Chancellor’s speech stack up against its recommendations?
Spending Review: can transparency trump temptation?
We should be up-front about the fiscal pain.
The fate of quangos
The government's announcement of arm's length bodies to be reformed sees it rearranging the deckchairs of the state, rather than rolling it back.
No 2 to No 10: taking MINDSPACE to Downing Street
I return to No 10.
How permanent secretaries reach the top
We examine the careers of top mandarins.
Parliament's new centre of gravity
The centre of gravity in the House of Commons is shifting from the chamber to the committee corridor.
Yes, Prime Minister on stage: the verdict
A new stage version of Yes, Prime Minister has just arrived in the West End.