Best Institute For Fiscal Studies Podcasts (2025)

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The End of the Peace Dividend? UK Defence in a Changing World 42:34

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31m ago42:34

42:34

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 c…

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Are the Kids OK? Your Questions Answered (Episode 5) 46:59

13d ago46:59

46:59

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, an…

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Are The Kids OK? Family Life (Episode 4) 40:51

24d ago40:51

40:51

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 …

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Are The Kids OK? The College Years (Episode 3) 52:37

1M ago52:37

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What happens after GCSEs, and how well does England’s education system support young people as they move into adulthood? The government’s Opportunity Mission sets 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 r…

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Are The Kids OK? The School Years (Episode 2) 48:32

1M ago48:32

48:32

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 …

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Are The Kids OK? The Early Years (Episode 1) 46:54

2M ago46:54

46:54

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 …

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Pensions, climate & debt: Three big threats to UK public finances 48:58

2M ago48:58

48:58

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 …

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One year of Labour government: Is mission-driven politics really happening? 41:09

2M ago41:09

41:09

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…

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Paul Johnson’s final episode: big challenges ahead for the UK economy 45:26

3M ago45:26

45:26

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 populati…

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How to fix UK pensions? 44:16

3M ago44:16

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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 o…

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The policy that changed childhood in the UK 55:48

3M ago55:48

55:48

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 th…

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What’s gone wrong in the Crown Courts? 43:51

3M ago43:51

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Delays in the Crown Court are at record highs, despite more funding and longer court hours. So what’s really causing the growing backlog of serious criminal cases in England and Wales? In this episode, Paul Johnson is joined by Ben Zaranko (IFS) and Cassia Rowland (Institute for Government) to explore why court productivity may have slowed, what th…

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Spending Review 2025: What it means and why it matters 43:40

4M ago43:40

43:40

In this episode, we unpack the government's 2025 Spending Review with analysis from experts at the IFS. Paul is joined by Helen Miller and Ben Zaranko to discuss what the Chancellor’s plans mean for public services, government investment, and the broader economic outlook. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: http…

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Trade Wars: The end of globalisation? 47:43

4M ago47:43

47:43

Rising tariffs, deepening tensions between the US and China, and a growing wave of protectionism—are we witnessing the unravelling of globalisation as we know it? In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Paul is joined by Professor Meredith Crowley (University of Cambridge) to explore the shifting landscape of global trade. Together, they unpack why trade …

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Why is the government reforming health-related benefits? 37:08

5M ago37:08

37:08

It's been two months since the government first announced its plans to enact the largest welfare reforms for a generation, aiming 'to help sick and disabled people who can and have the potential to work into jobs’. Since then, there has been considerable debate about the consequences of these reforms. But why does the government want to implement r…

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What's the future of corporation tax? 45:17

6M ago45:17

45:17

This week, we’re looking at corporation tax, which was introduced 60 years ago. Across the decades there have been no shortage of predictions that corporate tax revenues will decline, and yet the tax is forecast to raise record amounts in the coming years. To pick all of this apart, and to see how Donald Trump and tariffs play into the story, IFS D…

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Spring Statement 2025 37:10

6M ago37:10

37:10

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-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/p…

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The Schools Bill 46:36

7M ago46:36

46:36

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…

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Family values: inheritance, inequality and social mobility 49:48

7M ago49:48

49:48

As baby boomers hold an increasing share of wealth, younger generations are finding it harder to build financial security, often relying on family support for major milestones like homeownership. In her book Inheritocracy, Eliza Filby argues that – because of this – baby boomers have been good parents but not always great citizens. To explore the i…

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How important is the OBR forecast? 55:00

8M ago55:00

55:00

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 Part…

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Do tariffs work? 37:52

8M ago37:52

37:52

This week, President Trump was inaugurated for his second term and announced plans to impose significant tariffs on imports. But what exactly are tariffs, and how do they work? In this episode, we dive into the economic consequences of tariffs, why governments use them, and whether they actually achieve their intended goals. Joining Paul to unpack …

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How is tax damaging the housing market? 37:47

9M ago37:47

37:47

The UK’s housing market has long been a source of frustration for renters and homeowners alike, with issues of affordability and availability topping the agenda. The new government has identified housing market failures as a major barrier to economic growth—but what role does the tax system play in these challenges? In this episode, we’ll dig into …

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Why did the French budget fail to pass? 39:57

10M ago39:57

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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 …

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How can we make government more productive? 43:40

10M ago43:40

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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 …

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Inheritance tax rises and the Budget: who's affected? 46:59

11M ago46:59

46:59

In the recent budget, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced a £40 billion tax increase, pushing tax as a share of national income to an all time UK high. Just 6% of that came from an increase in inheritance tax, and just a small fraction of that will come from farmers. And yet it is the tax increase on farmers that has dominated the news headlin…