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PODCAST

IFS Zooms In: The Economy

Institute for Fiscal Studies

Step beyond the headlines with in-depth, independent analysis from the experts at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Hosted by IFS Director Helen Miller, this podcast brings you objective insights from the researchers shaping the debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All Episodes

40:15

Is the UK in hock to the bond market?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/11/13

The bond market plays a crucial role in shaping government spending decisions - but how much power does it really have? With a Budget around the corner, are investors or Rachel Reeves setting the limits on fiscal policy?In this episode, we unpack how the government borrows, why it’s so expensive right now, and what “fiscal credibility” really means. Joining Helen are Jack Meaning, Chief Economist at Barclays, and Ben Zaranko, IFS, to discuss the state of the bond market, the lessons from the Liz

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52:17

How could the Chancellor raise more tax?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/11/06

As the Chancellor prepares for her next Budget, attention is turning to how more tax revenue could be raised. What options are on the table - and what would they mean for households, businesses and the wider economy?Helen Miller is joined by IFS colleague Stuart Adam and tax expert Dan Neidle to explore the choices facing the Treasury. They discuss options from income tax and frozen thresholds to landlords, partnerships, pensions, and property taxes, asking which levers make sense and which should

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44:28

How to fix VAT

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/11/04

Why are chocolate-covered shortbread and plain shortbread taxed differently? The UK’s VAT system is full of bizarre inconsistencies that make it complex, inefficient, and unfair.In this episode, we dive into how VAT works, why economists tend to love it in theory, and why the UK’s version falls short in practice. We explore zero and reduced rates, exemptions, myths about regressivity, and discuss how simplifying VAT could make it fairer and less distortionary.In the fourth and final episode of our

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49:36

How to fix property taxes

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/10/30

From council tax and stamp duty to business rates and taxes on landlords, the UK’s system for taxing property is complicated, inconsistent, and long overdue for reform.Homes aren’t just places to live - they’re also assets and a major form of saving - which makes deciding how to tax them especially tricky. In this episode, Helen is joined by Stuart Adam and Ben Zaranko to explore how property is currently taxed, what’s gone wrong, and how it could be made fairer and more efficient.Become a member:

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1:05:37

How to fix wealth taxes

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/10/27

--> Sign up to our live podcast on 4th November: https://ifs.org.uk/events/ifs-zooms-live-how-could-chancellor-raise-more-taxIn the second episode of our mini-series on how to fix the UK’s tax system, Helen is joined by Stuart Adam and Ben Zaranko to explore one of the most contentious areas of taxation - savings and wealth.Why do people who earn through investments often pay lower taxes than those earning a salary? Why do business owners and landlords sometimes end up both undertaxed and

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43:27

How to fix income tax

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/10/21

--> Sign up to our live podcast in London on 4th November: http://eepurl.com/jonGY-/In the first episode of our new mini-series on how to fix the UK’s tax system, Helen is joined by Stuart Adam and Ben Zaranko to explore income tax - the cornerstone of government revenue, and one of the most confusing parts of our system. Why do we have two separate taxes on earnings? Why do odd kinks and cliff edges exist that distort behaviour? And what would a well-designed income tax actually look like?This

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47:55

The Budget Dilemma: Tax Rises or Spending Cuts?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/10/17

Rachel Reeves is once again facing tough choices on tax and spending. After promising no further tax rises last autumn, the Chancellor could now see a sizeable downgrade to the borrowing outlook - enough to wipe out the limited ‘headroom’ she built into her fiscal plans last spring. To stick to her ‘iron-clad’ rules, Reeves may now need a sizeable fiscal consolidation through tax rises, spending cuts, or both.Helen talks to IFS economists Carl Emmerson and Ben Zaranko about why we’re back here

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27:52

Should Labour scrap the two-child limit?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/10/09

The two-child limit stops most families on Universal Credit from claiming support for a third or later child — worth about £3,500 a year per child. Introduced in 2017, it’s now at the centre of a political debate, with the Chancellor under pressure to scrap or reform it in the November Budget.Helen talks to IFS economists Tom Waters and Christine Farquharson about why the policy was introduced, how it’s affected families and child poverty, and what the options are for changing or removing it.🎟️

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48:51

Should the middle classes get benefits?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/10/02

From child benefit to winter fuel payments, debates over who really deserves support run through the history of the UK’s welfare state. In this episode of IFS Zooms In, we ask whether benefits should be universal, means-tested or contributory— and why the UK's benefits system has become one of the most means-tested in the developed world.Helen is joined by Nicholas Timmins (Institute for Government) and Tom Waters (IFS) to explore Beveridge’s original vision, the rise of means-testing and whether

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42:34

The End of the Peace Dividend? UK Defence in a...

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/09/26

The UK has promised to raise defence spending to levels not seen since the 1980s. That means tens of billions more pounds each year, with big implications for the armed forces, the economy, and the public finances.In this episode, Helen speaks to Matthew Savill (RUSI) and Max Warner (IFS) about what defence spending actually pays for, how it has changed over time, and what the government’s new commitments could mean for growth and future military capabilities.Become a member:

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46:59

Are the Kids OK? Your Questions Answered (Episode 5)

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/09/11

This week, we turn the tables and put your questions to the experts.From childcare and early years, to schools, apprenticeships, and family life — listeners sent in brilliant questions on the challenges facing children and young people today.Helen Miller is joined by Christine Farquharson and guests Carey Oppenheim, Sam Freedman, Philip Augar, and Anne Longfield to discuss:- Should mothers be supported to stay at home rather than return to work?- Has YouTube made teaching harder for schools?- How

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40:51

Are the kids OK? Family life (Episode 4)

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/09/05

Nearly a third of children in the UK live in relative poverty, and rising numbers face material deprivation. The government’s Opportunity Mission pledges that every child should grow up in a safe, loving home and that families should be able to afford the essentials — but how close are we to that goal?In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Helen Miller is joined by Christine Farquharson (IFS) and Baroness Anne Longfield (Centre for Young Lives; former Children’s Commissioner for England) to explore:- How

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52:37

Are The Kids OK? The College Years (Episode 3)

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/08/28

What happens after GCSEs, and how well does England’s education system support young people as they move into adulthood?The government’sOpportunity Missionsets out to “build skills for opportunity and growth,” aiming to give every young person a pathway that’s right for them. In practice, that means navigating a system divided between academic routes, like A levels and university, and technical or vocational routes, often delivered through further education colleges.In this episode ofIFS Zooms In,

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48:32

Are The Kids Ok? The School Years (Episode 2)

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/08/21

Are England’s school-aged children thriving – or are too many being left behind?The government’s Opportunity Mission promises to end the link between a child’s background and their future. But with rising absences, a growing mental health crisis, and a SEND system under strain, how close are we to that goal?In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Helen Miller is joined by Christine Farquharson (Associate Director, IFS) and Sam Freedman (Institute for Government, Ark Schools) to explore:What’s driving

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46:54

Are The Kids OK? The Early Years (Episode 1)

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/08/14

Are England’s youngest children getting the best possible start? Or are too many beginning school already behind?One of the government’s five ‘missions’ is to break down barriers to opportunity by tackling inequalities in early childhood. Its ‘Best Start in Life’ strategy aims for 75% of children to reach a ‘good level of development’ by age five - but with only 68% meeting that bar today, how ambitious is that goal, and what will it take to get there?In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Helen Miller is

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48:58

Pensions, climate & debt: Three big threats to UK...

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/07/24

Is the UK heading for a fiscal crisis? Or can policymakers still steer the public finances back to a sustainable path?The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report warns that, without action, UK government debt could climb above 270% of GDP by the 2070s - driven by rising borrowing, an ageing population, and the fiscal impacts of climate change.In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Helen Miller (Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies) is joined by Richard Hughes

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41:09

One year of Labour government: Is mission-driven...

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/07/18

Has Keir Starmer’s Labour government really brought in a “new way of doing government”? Or are its five missions more rhetoric than reality?To mark the one-year anniversary of Labour’s 2024 general election victory, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Institute for Government held a joint event exploring the government’s approach to governing – and whether its decisions, trade-offs and spending priorities reflect a genuinely mission-driven approach.In this episode of IFS Zooms In, we bring you

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45:26

Paul Johnson’s final episode: big challenges ahead...

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/07/09

Today, we’re zooming out to ask: what are the biggest economic challenges facing the UK in the years ahead?As Paul Johnson hosts his final episode before stepping down as IFS director, he’s joined by incoming director Helen Miller to reflect on the country’s fiscal outlook, the importance of economic growth, and the pressures of an ageing population.With rising demands on public services, debates over tax policy, and uncertainty around fiscal rules, how should policymakers navigate the road ahead

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44:16

How to fix UK pensions?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/07/04

Today, we’re asking whether people in the UK will be able to afford a decent standard of living in retirement.While the foundations of the system—like the state pension and automatic enrolment—are strong, there are growing concerns. Rising state pension ages, the unpredictability of the ‘triple lock’, low private saving rates, and the complexity of managing pension wealth in later life all pose challenges for future retirees.So, what changes are needed to improve outcomes? What’s the right balance

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55:48

The policy that changed childhood in the UK

IFS Zooms In: The Economy ·

2025/06/26

Today, we’re looking back at one of the most ambitious policies ever introduced for young children in England – Sure Start.Launched by the Labour government in 1999, Sure Start aimed to give every child the best start in life by bringing together early education, childcare, health services, and parental support under one roof. At its peak, more than 3,000 centres were operating across the country. But since 2010, the programme has been scaled back, with funding cut by around two-thirds.So, what

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167 results

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