IFS Zooms In: The Economy

Discussing the ambitious yet limited policies of the Labour Party manifesto focusing on public services, welfare, and growth strategies like liberalizing planning regime. Exploring potential reforms to capital gains and inheritance tax, challenges in estimating revenue, and uncertainties surrounding tax reform proposals. Analyzing Labour's manifesto on tax and spending with a lack of detailed plans for reforms in education and business rates

The podcast delves into the Conservative manifesto, discussing tax cuts, defense spending, welfare bill reductions, and the lack of strategy in policy-making. It analyzes the implications of proposed tax changes, challenges in valuing vocational education, and the ambiguity around tax avoidance crackdowns in party manifestos.

It’s manifesto week, and we’ll be coming to you with plenty of analysis of the promises, pledges and numbers. In this episode, we’ll dive into some work looking at the how the size and shape of the state have changed over recent decades, and how the tax system has changed since 2010. We'll also give our reaction to the Liberal Democrat manifesto. Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last few days have seen plenty of competing claims about tax rises, but very little discussion of the very tight fiscal situation facing the next government. What problems will they face? Can growth ride to the rescue?Also in this episode, we explore what's happened to the education system, from funding and teacher pay, to falling pupil numbers and the impact of COVID.Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the UK economy's tumultuous journey since 2008, marked by low growth and rising challenges. Discover how external factors like Brexit and the pandemic have shaped economic performance. Delve into the complexities of tax commitments amidst political pressures, and examine the troubling rise in youth disengagement from education and employment. Uncover the trends in corporate tax revenue and the stagnation of median incomes, all while addressing the balance needed in NHS management post-pandemic.

In our first election special, we look at the broad economic picture and analyse announcements about the fiscal rules, the triple lock and tax.Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Valero, a Policy Fellow and Director at the Centre for Economic Performance at LSE, dives into crucial topics surrounding economic growth in the UK. She discusses the pressing need for supportive policies to combat post-Brexit productivity stagnation. Valero highlights the dominant role of the service sector and the importance of long-term investments. The conversation also touches on the impact of government policy on stability and innovation, alongside the challenges posed by global manufacturing dynamics and the green technology sector.

Today, we’re setting the stage for a key moment in UK politics — the upcoming spending review, expected this November. The spending review will set some £600 billion of departmental budgets from April 2025 onwards, and will be a crucial moment for the next government to lay out its priorities and plans for public services. How should the incoming government go about doing the next spending review? How can the government make sure they deliver on their priorities? And will they be constrained by the much talked about ‘treasury orthodoxy’?To help us answer these questions, we're joined by two people who have been at the heart of government - David Gauke, a lawyer and former MP who served in the Treasury under David Cameron and Theresa May’s governments and Giles Wilkes, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government and former special adviser to Theresa May and Vince Cable. Try our tool: https://ifs.org.uk/election-2024/be-chancellorFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We often hear about government debt in the headlines. Currently the UK government owes around £2.65 trillion, nearly 100% of UK GDP - the value of all the goods and services produced in the UK in a year. How has the debt level grown? Should we aspire to reduce the debt? And do we need to worry about high debt to GDP ratios?Joining us today to answer all these questions and more, is David Miles, Professor of Financial Economics at Imperial College Business School, a member of the OBR Budget Responsibility Committee and former member of the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a 2% cut to National Insurance, amidst other measures on tax and spending.What will the impact of the measures be? How will it affect living standards? And what choices face the next Parliament?Joining us today are Helen Miller, Deputy Director at IFS and Ben Zaranko, Senior Research Economist at IFS.Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.