Public services
We examine the performance of public services and make proposals about how they can improve.
Public sector workforce
Labour’s agreement on junior doctor pay is a good first step for renewed staff relations
Despite a reset in tone, the government faces tough negotiations ahead on public sector pay.
Pay review bodies
Pay review bodies are independent panels that gather evidence and then provide government with advice each year on pay for many public sector workers.
Austerity postponed? The impact of Labour’s first budget on public services
Rachel Reeves' budget starts to address poor performance – but a lot is riding on next year’s spending review.
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Capital investment
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Capital spending in public services
Crumbling schools, hospitals and prisons need a new capital spending plan to turn performance around.
Forcing the NHS to reallocate capital spending is a false economy
The Sunak government is still choosing short-term fixes over long-term solutions.
Why does the UK underinvest in public service infrastructure – and how can the problem be fixed?
Lord O'Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary, joined us to discuss why the UK has set relatively low capital budgets.
The NHS productivity puzzle
The NHS crisis will only be solved with capital investment, increasing management capacity and staff retention – not just more doctors and nurses.
Explore by public service
Health and care
Our research assesses the performance of health and care services and how to improve them.
Criminal justice
Our research assesses the performance of criminal justice services and how to improve them.
Schools
Our research assesses the performance of education services and how to improve them.
Local government
Our research assesses the performance of local government services and how to improve them.
IfG public services conference
A special one-day conference to discuss the cross-cutting issues facing public services with speakers including Michael Gove and Lord Blunkett.
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Improving public services
Austerity postponed? The impact of Labour’s first budget on public services
Rachel Reeves’ budget will see spending increase faster than demand for every public service bar police until 2025/26.
Fixing public services
The government's public services inheritance make its spending plans untenable.
A preventative approach to public services
The next government must focus on prevention or risk worse public services and higher taxes.
Enabling Integrated Care Systems to work better
Most of the money that flows to the NHS now goes through ICSs.
Using targets to improve public services
Government targets in public services may do more harm than good.
'Austerity' in public services: lessons from the 2010s
Jeremy Hunt is right to delay his fiscal statement – but should not rush into a new austerity programme.
Recent events
What kind of reform does the NHS need?
The Labour government must set the NHS on a sustainable long-term footing. At this event we considered what reforms might be needed to do this.
IfG public services conference
A special one-day conference to discuss the cross-cutting issues facing public services with speakers including Michael Gove and Lord Blunkett.
What role can prevention play in boosting public service productivity?
Dr Thomas Waite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, joined our panel event to discuss the government's public service reform plans.
Our public services team
Nick Davies
Programme Director
Austerity postponed? The impact of Labour’s first budget on public services
Stuart Hoddinott
Senior Researcher
The government is making tentative steps towards local government finance reform
Cassia Rowland
Senior Researcher
Overflowing prisons are just one aspect of deep dysfunction across our failing criminal justice system
Thomas Pope
Deputy Chief Economist
Austerity postponed? The impact of Labour’s first budget on public services
Philip Nye
Senior Data Scientist
Austerity postponed? The impact of Labour’s first budget on public services
Amber Dellar
Research Assistant