This week, we look at the Spring Statement. What were the decisions and trade-offs made by Chancellor Reeves? To pick this apart, IFS Director Paul Johnson is joined by IFS Associate Directors Ben Zaranko and Tom Waters.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re looking at The Schools Bill. The bill, which has the full title of The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25, covers children’s social care and education.  The aim of the bill, as stated on the House of Commons Library website, is to “improve the safeguarding of children and to raise educational standards”. We’re going to be focusing on the schools components.  To look at this, IFS Director Paul Johnson is joined by Laura McInerney and Luke Sibieta.  Laura was the founding editor of Schools Week and now co-runs Teacher Tapp, a regular online survey of teachers. Luke is a Research Fellow at The IFS specialising in Education. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful discussion, Eliza Filby, a best-selling author of "Inheritocracy," and David Sturrock, a Senior Research Economist at the IFS, tackle the widening divide between baby boomers and younger generations. They explore how inheritance shapes social mobility, emphasizing the reliance of millennials and Gen Z on familial support for significant life milestones. The guests also dive into the implications of wealth concentration and the challenges of stagnant earnings, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to bridge the wealth gap and elevate opportunities for future generations.

As the OBR comes up with its forecast, which will underpin the Chancellor’s decisions at the Spring Forecast, one of the concerns may be that it tells her that she is not meeting her fiscal targets. That will require some action. Helping Paul explore this are Andy King and Gerard Lyons. Andy previously worked at the OBR and is now a Specialist Partner at Flint Global. Gerard has spent over thirty years in senior roles in the City and in public policy. He is currently Chief Economic Strategist at Netwealth. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Levell, Deputy Research Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and a trade economics expert, joins the discussion on the role of tariffs. They explore tariffs as a tax on imports, examining their implications under recent trade policies and their diminishing role in revenue generation. The conversation touches on the complicated trade relationship between the UK and EU, the historical contexts of tariffs, and the balancing act between protecting domestic industries and the benefits of global trade.

Join Stuart Adam, a Senior Economist at IFS specializing in housing taxation, and Tim Leunig, an economist from the London School of Economics with a rich advisory background, as they delve into the UK housing market's struggles. They discuss how taxes like stamp duty and council tax impact affordability and market dynamics. The conversation highlights inequities in the tax system, challenges for landlords, and proposes reforms to address the ongoing housing crisis. Discover how these tax policies shape housing choices and the broader economic landscape.

Today, we’re turning our attention to France, where a recent Budget has sparked intense debate and raised major questions about the country’s economic future.France is tackling some big economic challenges: rising public debt, slow growth, and the need for major reforms in areas like pensions and energy. In this episode, we’ll explore what was in the budget, why it caused such a stir, and how it compares to the recent UK budget.To help us make sense of it all, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Antoine Bozio, Director of the Institut des Politiques Publiques in Paris.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From healthcare to education to local government, the public sector delivers essential services—but how can it stay effective and efficient with tightening budgets and rising demand?In this episode, we examine the UK government’s push to improve public sector productivity. Rachel Reeves is enlisting private sector leaders to tackle inefficiencies in Whitehall, while Wes Streeting has proposed NHS reforms to boost output. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, President-elect Trump has stirred debate by appointing Elon Musk to a new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ to slash costs. Are public services keeping pace with private sector innovations? What’s driving productivity trends in the UK? And how can policies create better outcomes for everyone?We’re joined by Ben Zaranko, Associate Director at IFS, and Sam Freedman, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government and former senior policy adviser to Michael Gove, to unpack these questions and more.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Miller, Deputy Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and David Sturrock, an IFS expert on inheritances, dive into the recent budget changes affecting inheritance tax. They discuss how just a small part of the £40 billion tax hike is from inheritance tax, yet it's dominated the headlines, especially regarding farmers. The conversation highlights the complexities of the tax, its perceived fairness, and its impact on various wealth demographics, including significant challenges for individuals with assets tied up in their homes.

At the end of October, the ONS announced that the fertility rate in England and Wales had fallen to 1.44 births per woman in 2023 - the lowest figure since records began in 1938. What will this mean for the population make-up of the country? What other big demographic shifts are occurring? Why is this trend occurring across the developed world? And what will its implications be for the public finances?To discuss those questions, Paul is joined by Melinda Mills, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Nuffield Professor of Demography at Oxford. And by Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director at IFS and one of the leading experts on the UK's public finances.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.