Public finances
We analyse tax, spending and wider economic policy, looking at how it can most effectively be designed, implemented and where government falls short.
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The government has abdicated responsibility for public services
Jeremy Hunt’s tax cuts have been funded by further tightening public service budgets.
The 2023 autumn statement marks a step forward on devolution – but the job is far from complete
Four new devolution deals shows promise for the government’s devolution agenda.
Six things we learnt from the 2023 autumn statement
The chancellor presented his autumn statement alongside the latest forecasts from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.
Forthcoming and recent events
Government 2024: IfG's annual conference
The IfG will bring together influential speakers and experts to explore the key questions for government in 2024.
How can devolution contribute to regional growth in England?
Jim McMahon MP, Shadow Minister for English Devolution and Local Government, joins us to discuss what ‘good’ devolution looks like.
How can government ensure it learns effectively from the past in making public finance decisions?
This event discussed The Way the Money Goes: The Fiscal Constitution and Public Spending in the UK.
What does the 2023 autumn statement mean for UK fiscal policy?
Following the autumn statement, an IfG event – featuring OBR's Richard Hughes – assessed the chancellor’s announcements.
Key explainers
Current UK fiscal rules
What are the government’s current fiscal rules and is it on track to meet them?
Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the UK’s official independent economic and fiscal forecaster.
Budgets
Governments require parliament’s approval to spend money, as well as to raise revenue in the form of taxes.
Budgets
Before and after major fiscal events we look at the key issues facing the government and assess the main choices it makes, drawing on expertise from across the Institute.
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The cost of living crisis
Cost of living crisis
How high is inflation? What prices are increasing fastest? Why have prices increased so rapidly?
Energy price cap
Amid soaring energy bills, we explain what the Ofgem price cap is and how it's calculated.
Addressing rising energy bills
The measures committed to by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak will make only a small dent in the costs now expected this winter.
Levelling up
‘Levelling up’ from the centre
A new central government approach is needed to reduce regional inequality.
What levelling up policies will drive economic change?
Levelling up will not deliver the changes promised by Boris Johnson unless the next PM’s government is more ambitious in tackling regional inequality.
Will the levelling up missions help reduce regional inequality?
The government’s levelling up missions fall short of what is needed to level up.
How the government can make progress on levelling up despite tight budgets
The government must do more than just revert to its levelling up white paper’s policy positions if it wants to address regional inequalities.
The Treasury
What is in the new chancellor's in-tray?
The new chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, should use Truss’s planned ‘fiscal event’ to be honest about difficult choices on tax and spending beyond this win
Tackling rising inflation and slowing growth
The economic crisis facing the UK is very different to the 2008 financial crash and the early 1990s recession – which means a very different response
How can the government ensure it gets value for money from public spending?
This event with the Nuffield Foundation explored what can be learned from the from the success and failure of efforts at spending control in the UK.
Our work
Regulation
We look at how government uses regulation to achieve its objectives and how rules can most effectively be designed and implemented through regulators.
Budgets
Before and after major fiscal events we look at the key issues facing the government and assess the choices it makes, drawing on expertise across IfG.
Levelling up
We assess the government’s approach to levelling up, whether it is well-defined and whether it can succeed where other governments have failed.
Tax policy making
How is evidence used in tax policy making?
A key tenet of good policy making, including on tax, is use of the best available evidence.
Better Budgets: making tax policy better
The Government must change the way it makes tax and budget decisions.
Overcoming the barriers to tax reform
The UK tax system needs substantial reform, but recent governments have shied away from it because of public resistance.
How to be a tax-reforming chancellor
The tax system is in desperate need of reform. The new government’s majority gives it an opportunity that none has had for the last decade and a half.
Our public finances team
Gemma Tetlow
Chief Economist
Six things we learnt from the 2023 autumn statement
Thomas Pope
Deputy Chief Economist
Six things we learnt from the 2023 autumn statement
Olly Bartrum
Senior Economist
Rachel Reeves has made welcome moves to improve fiscal policy making
Rebecca McKee
Senior Researcher
The Conservatives and Labour need to get serious about tackling regional inequality
Giles Wilkes
Senior Fellow
Rishi Sunak’s pivot to tax cuts reveals No10’s search for an economic argument
Jeremy Pattison
Research Assistant