Ruth Curtice

Ruth Curtice, the former Director of Fiscal Policy at the UK Treasury and now chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, dives into the complexities of tax solutions to address a £30 billion budget hole. She discusses innovative strategies like aligning business taxes, introducing a sugary foods tax, and reforming vehicle taxes by mileage. Ruth emphasizes the impact these changes could have on the self-employed and advocates for measures to collect unpaid taxes from small businesses. Her insights reveal how thoughtful tax reforms can foster growth while being fair.

Paul Johnson is the Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and author of Follow the Money, while Ruth Curtice is the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation and a former Treasury fiscal policy director. They delve into why Britain's economy appears unhealthy, discussing the disconnect between high taxes and declining public services. They explore the lasting effects of COVID-19 and the public's mismatched expectations. Both guests share their dream economic policies, tackling issues like child poverty and housing taxation, offering insightful solutions to complex problems.

In this enlightening discussion, Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Ruth Curtice, CEO of the Resolution Foundation, dive into Britain's troubled economy. They question whether the looming tax rises highlight deeper structural issues. The duo examines the lingering fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the surprising disconnect between public expectations and government capabilities. Intriguingly, they share bold policy ideas, like overhauling tax systems to combat child poverty—imagine being an economic dictator for a day!