Thomas Pope
Deputy Chief Economist
Where next for levelling up?
This short paper highlights five key challenges that any government seeking to reduce regional inequalities will need to address.
A Labour government would need to take big decisions to deliver on its devolution agenda
Do Keir Starmer’s and Angela Rayner’s devolution plans add up?
How the next government should complete the job of English devolution
The next government must extend devolution to 85% of England to deliver meaningful and balanced economic growth.
Six key takeaways from the Labour conference in Liverpool
As the glitter settled on Keir Starmer's speech, what key themes emerged from Labour's annual gathering?
Six key questions for Keir Starmer at the Labour Party conference
The IfG expert team pick out six key questions for Labour to answer in Liverpool
All work
Rishi Sunak’s budget should start laying the groundwork for tax reform
Thomas Pope argues that the chancellor should use his budget to lay the ground for future changes to the tax system
The government must bring an end to the UK subsidy control system limbo
The government needs to address immediately the post-Brexit legal uncertainty around subsidy control
The government must bring an end to its risky Covid crisis procurement
Thomas Pope says the government needs to return to normal competitive processes that offer the best value for money
Whitehall Monitor 2021
Whitehall Monitor 2021 reveals the way the pandemic has changed how the government takes decisions, spends money and makes policy.
The cost of coronavirus
There are many costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic, not least the lives lost as a result.
Brexit and coronavirus: economic impacts and policy response
The government should restrict access to coronavirus support schemes to businesses affected by the pandemic.
Government deserves credit for reducing the economic costs of coronavirus lockdown
Well-designed restrictions and clear communication were able to reduce the extent of any trade-off between public health and the economy
Five things we learnt from the 2020 spending review
Before the spending review, we outlined five things to look for in the chancellor’s announcement. We assess what the statement told us about each one.
Coronavirus: how countries supported wages during the pandemic
This explainer summarises how different countries supported wages during the pandemic, and how those schemes developed and changed during the crisis.
Rishi Sunak’s furlough U-turn protects jobs but risks being poor value for taxpayer money
Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a long extension to furlough and self-employed support may end up being an over-correction