Commentary
The Institute publishes a series of 'Observations', which use our research to explain the facts behind topical policy debates. IFS staff also publish articles in a variety of national newspapers, blogs and specialist magazines to help inform the public debate.
For reports and academic publications, see our publications page.
Our press releases and public finance bulletins can be found on our News page.
Latest Observations
Observation
Governments are responsible for spending huge amounts of public money. Effective control of that spending is essential if governments are to meet their fiscal objectives, deliver their desired policy outcomes, and achieve value for money for the taxpayer. A new IFS report, published today as part ...
Observation
There is a current debate about whether the definition of self-employment should be aligned across tax and employment law. At present there is a rather complex situation – illustrated by a recent court case involving Pimlico Plumbers – in which an individual can be deemed a worker in employment ...
Observation
Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced a ‘70th Birthday present’ for the NHS, pledging average real annual increases of 3.4% per year for the next five years. One challenge for the Government is where the money to pay for this will come from. After social security spending, the NHS is the ...
Recent newspaper articles
Newspaper article
Rising house prices have not only left fewer young people able to buy a home, they have also divided them into property "haves" and "have-nots".
Newspaper article
Received wisdom says household income has stagnated since 2008. Actually the problem goes further back.
Newspaper article
Two weighty fiscal reports were published last Tuesday. Neither document makes for terribly comfortable reading.