The current economic environment is shaped by inflation and a rising cost of living crisis. During this period of uncertainty, the Chancellor gave his Spring Statement, outlining his plans for the public finances and responding to the shocks facing the economy.In this episode, Paul speaks with Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director at IFS and Tom Waters, IFS research economist, about the Chancellor’s statement and the implications going forward.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since we were last on air, Russia has invaded the Ukraine, and defence has come to the fore of the public conversation.How much does the UK spend on defence? How has this changed over time? And what will Russia's invasion mean for UK defence spending?This week, we speak with Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and Ben Zaranko, IFS Public Finance expert.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National Insurance Contributions are rising in April. Since being announced, opinion has been divided on whether this is the best mechanism to raise revenue.But, what are National Insurance contributions? Are they the same as income tax? What will the extra tax revenue raised from April be used for? And are there better ways of raising tax?In this episode, IFS Deputy Director Helen Miller takes us through the world of National Insurance Contributions, and answers questions posed by our social media followers.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world of rising housing costs, rising energy bills and increasing taxes, saving for retirement may be at the back of many people's minds. But decisions around when and how much to save can be crucial in shaping people's lives post-retirement.This week, we're joined by Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times and host of the FT's Money Clinic podcast, and Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director at IFS and pensions expert.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/donateSee Claer's article 'The Million Pound Pension Problem': https://www.ft.com/content/48ae7709-916b-4cec-b22f-3c006805b699 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is engulfed in a cost of living crisis, from rising inflation to flat-lining wages and incoming tax rises. In addition, energy prices are set to rise steeply, affecting households up and down the country and especially those on lower incomes.This week, we're joined by Giles Wilkes a senior fellow at the Institute for Government and former special adviser to Theresa May on industrial and economic policy, and Stuart Adam, a Senior Economist at IFS who focuses on the design of the tax and benefit system, to understand why energy prices are rising, and think about what the government can do to bring down prices and help households.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year and welcome to season three of the IFS Zooms In!This week Paul is joined by four IFS experts, Robert Joyce, Helen Miller, Ben Zaranko and Christine Farquharson to discuss the most important issues facing the economy in 2022.From the rising cost of living, to tax rises in April, an Omicron surge challenging the NHS and an education system making up for lost learning, we'll go beyond the headlines and brief you on the deeper stories you should be paying attention to this year.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many economies in Western Europe have experienced a sizeable increase in income inequality since the 1980s, and inequality has grown even more rapidly in the United States. This rising inequality in advanced economies coincided with a period of globalisation that was characterised by rapid growth in international merchandise trade.What role did globalisation play in deepening inequality?In this episode, we speak with IFS economist Peter Levell and Penny Goldberg, Professor of Economics at Yale University and former Chief Economist of the World Bank.**The sudden shift to home working left us without our usual equipment - apologies for any issues with audio quality** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we bring you this year's IFS annual lecture delivered by Professor Jean Tirole, Honorary Chairman of the Toulouse School of Economics. In his talk, he discusses how economics can be used to shape narratives and help solve the biggest crises facing our societies and governments.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/about/membership/individual Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, all eyes are on the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) summit in Glasgow as world leaders meet to accelerate action on climate change. The UK is legally committed to reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions that arise from UK-based activities to zero by 2050, but action to reduce emissions will need to happen on a global scale to be effective. What policies should governments worldwide introduce to combat climate change? How should carbon taxes be designed to ensure a cost-efficient and fair transition to net zero?This week, IFS Director and Climate Change Committee member Paul Johnson is joined by Alice Pirlot, Research Fellow at the Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation, and IFS Associate Director Peter Levell.Support the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/about/membership/individual Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The food we eat and the way it is produced impacts not only our health and lifestyles, but also our carbon footprints.The recent National Food Strategy report commissioned by the government and published this summer proposes measures to improve our health, reduce strain on the NHS and make our food culture healthier and more sustainable. What role should the government play in influencing what we eat? And how can taxes and policy be designed to get us to eat more healthily?This week, Paul is joined by Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of the restaurant chain Leon and leader of the National Food Strategy report, and IFS Associate Director and expert on food taxes Kate Smith.Find out more about the IFS: https://ifs.org.uk/Support the IFS: https://www.ifs.org.uk/about/membership/individual Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.