Performance Tracker
Our flagship report with CIPFA assesses the comparative problems faced by critical public services such as the NHS, schools and the police.
Explore Performance Tracker
BBC News: Junior doctor strikes
Senior researcher Stuart Hoddinott speaks to BBC News amid the ongoing junior doctor strike, and comments on the impact on the performance of the NHS.
Forcing the NHS to reallocate capital spending is a false economy
The Sunak government is still choosing short-term fixes over long-term solutions.
The autumn statement 2023: pressures on public services
Baroness Morris and Stephen Bush joined us to discuss the state of public services ahead of the upcoming general election.
Rachel Reeves' book launch: key takeaways
The shadow chancellor reaffirmed her position on fiscal discipline in an IfG event in October
Performance Tracker 2023: Cross-service analysis
Public services are under considerable strain, with years of tight funding, staffing problems and underinvestment in capital all taking their toll.
Short-term policy making has trapped public services in a ‘doom loop’
Chronic short-termism is harming service performance in key public services.
Performance Tracker 2023: Methodology
Background information on our research for each spending area.
Performance Tracker 2023
Government is stuck in a public service performance doom loop.
Performance Tracker 2023: Police
Forces are starting to reverse poor performance, but severe challenges still remain.
Performance Tracker 2023: Prisons
Poor long-term planning means prison populations have exploded, with dire consequences for rehabilitation and prisoner safety.
Performance Tracker 2023: Criminal courts
Demand is becoming more complex, backlogs are at record highs, and productivity is declining
Performance Tracker 2023: Adult social care
The government has provided more funding, but the sector may struggle to address unmet need in the face of rising costs and competing priorities.
Public services in 'perpetual state of decline since 2010'
The Times reports on the findings of the IfG and CIPFA's 2023 Performance Tracker.
Performance Tracker 2023: General practice
Despite a declining workforce, GPs are delivering more appointments than ever, though this may be increasing workloads and burnout.
Performance Tracker 2023: Hospitals
Despite more funding and higher staff numbers, hospitals are struggling to return to pre-pandemic performance levels.
Performance Tracker 2023: Summary
Public services are crumbling in the face of workforce problems, years of underinvestment, and current spending plans. A new approach is needed.
The Guardian view on declining public services: Labour should level with the public
The Guardian picks up on the worrying findings of the IfG and CIPFA's 2023 Performance Tracker.
Performance Tracker 2023: Neighbourhood services
Neighbourhood services – libraries, road maintenance, and waste collection – entered the pandemic with reduced or changed amenities.
Performance Tracker 2023: Children's social care
The sector faces workforce shortages alongside increasing demands; with referrals at pre-pandemic levels and an increasingly complex caseload.
Performance Tracker 2023: Schools
A recruitment crisis, problems with pupil attendance and the presence of RAAC are all presenting challenges for schools.
Crumbling Britain: ‘£24 billion black hole of underinvestment in infrastructure’
Channel 4 reports on the IfG and CIPFA's 2023 Performance Tracker and its findings on public spending.
Emergency prison measures are the result of poor policy making
The situation in prisons will get worse before it gets better.
Six key takeaways from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester
Rishi Sunak’s speech made the headlines – but the Conservative Party conference was full of sub-plots worth following.
Public sector pay is not the only aspect of fiscal policy that can stoke inflation
Is fiscal policy really the right way to try to cut inflation?