Institute for Fiscal Studies Articles

Did you ever see the comedy show Little Britain and the famous sketch ‘the computer says no?’ No matter how many questions someone asks the receptionist they always get the same answer. It is a funny sketch. And the government’s approach to austerity has taken the...

The new year has begun with a political battle about spending. Labour focused on the deteriorating state of the NHS under this government, highlighting its pledge to inject extra funding to recruit more frontline staff. It was no surprise that the Conservatives...

Ed Balls has chosen to take a different approach to spending to that adopted by Labour prior to 1997. He is right to do so, says Jonathan Todd From the bully pulpit of the Treasury, George Osborne is convinced that he can have the deficit dominate the next parliament...

Since its defeat in 2010, public service reform has been the black hole in Labour’s internal debate. Next week, at last, we can expect some colour, with Ed Miliband’s first major speech on the subject, Jon Cruddas entering the fray, and Liz Kendall launching the...