IFS Zooms In: The Economy

By Institute for Fiscal Studies

The IFS podcast about the UK economy, tax, public spending and living standards. Each week, IFS Director Helen Miller speaks to leading economists and researchers to explain the economic issues shapin... more

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The podcast currently has 198 episodes available.

Best of IFS Zooms In: The Economy

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Land value tax: the perfect tax?
Land value tax has long been popular with economists. Unlike most taxes, it doesn’t discourage people from working, investing or building - and in theory it can raise money without distorting economic decisions. So why don’t we use it more? In this episode, Helen is joined by Stuart Adam and Ben Zaranko to explain how a land value tax would work, who would gain and lose from introducing one, and why its effects can be very different for existing landowners and future buyers. We also look at some of the big practical and political questions. Can land really be valued accurately? Would the tax be fair? Could it replace council tax, stamp duty or other taxes? And should governments capture more of the increase in land values created by new infrastructure or planning permission? Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 04, 202653min
Number 2: How does immigration affect the public finances?
Immigration is one of the most debated issues in British politics. But what impact does it actually have on the economy and the public finances? We speak to Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford and Interim Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, and IFS economist Max Warner about how migration to the UK has changed, and what that means for the government’s finances. Which types of migrants contribute most to the public finances, and which cost the government more? How does immigration affect the wider economy? And with net migration falling sharply, what could lower migration mean for the OBR’s forecasts - and the choices facing the Chancellor at the Budget? Madeleine’s new book, What Is Immigration Policy For?, is available from Bristol University Press. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 10, 202650min
Number 3: Are business rates 'killing the high street'?
Business rates have long been blamed for the decline of Britain’s high streets. Shops and pubs face large bills, while online retailers can operate from cheaper out-of-town warehouses. So surely cutting business rates would help? Not necessarily. Helen Miller is joined by IFS tax expert Stuart Adam and Observer economics editor Ben Zaranko to explain why business rates are widely misunderstood. They discuss who really bears the cost of the tax, why cutting rates could simply lead to higher rents, whether pubs and high streets deserve special treatment, and how a growing patchwork of reliefs and exemptions has made the system increasingly complicated. They also ask what is actually wrong with business rates - and why taxing land rather than the buildings sitting on it might offer a better solution. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 27, 202650min
Number 4: Are people saving enough for retirement?
The government has launched a new Pensions Commission, raising the prospect of significant changes to how people save for retirement. Are people currently saving enough? Should minimum workplace pension contributions rise? And what should the government do about low pension saving among the self-employed? Christine Farquharson is joined by IFS researchers Jonathan Cribb and Heidi Karjalainen to examine what future pensioners can expect. They discuss what counts as an adequate retirement income, how housing and inheritances affect people’s needs, and why the right policy may differ across generations. They also explore whether people should be encouraged to save more at particular stages of their working lives, and whether policymakers should be concerned about people drawing on their pension wealth before reaching state pension age. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 31, 202651min
Number 5: Do disability benefits need reform?
The number of people receiving disability benefits has risen sharply in recent years, pushing up government spending and prompting renewed debate about how the system should work. In this episode, Helen Miller is joined by IFS economists Eduin Latimer and Tom Waters to explain how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) works, who receives it and why claims have increased. They examine the choices facing the government as the Timms Review considers the future of disability benefits. Should PIP remain a universal cash benefit? Could more support be provided in kind? Should eligibility depend more on the severity or type of a person’s condition? And what would different reforms mean for claimants and the public finances? The discussion explores the difficult trade-offs involved in reforming disability benefits - including who receives support, what form that support takes and how much the government spends. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 24, 202643min