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Artwork for IFS Zooms In: The Economy

IFS Zooms In: The Economy

Institute for Fiscal Studies
UK Economy
NHS
Public Services
Taxation
Institute For Fiscal Studies
Public Spending
Labour Party
Child Poverty
Public Finances
Economic Growth
Tax Policy
Pensions
Conservative Party
Income Tax
Fiscal Policy
Housing Market
United Kingdom
State Pension
Council Tax
Education System

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes193Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for IFS Zooms In: The Economy

Latest Episodes

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. He... more

More young people than ever are going to university, but the financial stakes have also risen. Many graduates begin their careers with around £50,000 of student debt and could make repayments for up to 40 years. While some degrees deliver substantial... more

YouTube

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 govern... more

YouTube

Andy Burnham is preparing to enter Downing Street, but he will inherit a government facing tight fiscal constraints and a series of difficult decisions.

The public finances remain under pressure, debt interest spending is high, and commitments not t... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Heidi Karjalainen
Researcher at the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Episode: Are people saving enough for retirement?
Max Warner
Analyst at Institute for Fiscal Studies
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Episode: The tax and spending choices facing Andy Burnham
Naomi Clayton
CEO of the Institute for Employment Studies; former roles at Learning and Work Institute and What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth
Institute for Employment Studies
Episode: The inequality of 'good jobs'
Paul Johnson
Provost at the Queen's College Oxford, former head of IFS
Institute for Fiscal Studies / University of Oxford
Episode: How unequal is Britain?
Jonathan Cribb
Deputy Director at the IFS
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Episode: How unequal is Britain?
Chris Giles
Economics commentator at the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: The tough fiscal reality facing the UK government
Dieter Helm
Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: Why is UK electricity so expensive?
Peter Levell
Deputy Research Director at the IFS
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Episode: Why is UK electricity so expensive?
David Phillips
Regular IFS researcher on local and devolved government finances
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Episode: What do councils actually do?

Host

Helen Miller
Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies; hosts IFS Zooms In: The Economy and related discussions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 230 ratings
  • Audio quality is terrible

    Totally unlistenable as audio quality so bad from many of the speakers

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sir Mate
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Excellent, simply explained

    I recommend this podcast to everyone I know - great, accessible explanations for practitioners and people with no knowledge of the tax system alike. More please!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hebp242
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Economically illiterate

    Economically illiterate. Okay that’s harsh as some of the points made are coherent but there’s so much of a rambling scatter gun approach, a failure to distinguish between tax rises and cutting transfer payments (as though they are the economic equivalent, they are not) and continually ignoring the failure to tax the capital gains on prime residential property (this could be done as a death duty instead of the bonkers 40% tax on value) instead of silly assertions that there should be an annual t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rosenbaum & Wolf
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Brilliant

    Helen Miller the new Director is excellent 👌 I like her summaries at the end of each podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HilBiker
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • The IFS Zooms In always brings intellectual clarity and coherence, and presents complex issues in a very comprehensible manner.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    NAHarvey
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are valued for clear, data-driven explanations.
Audio quality is a frequent complaint, though content quality and expertise are praised.
Pacing and speed of delivery can be challenging for some listeners, but guests and hosts are seen as credible and insightful.
Listeners appreciate rigorous analysis of UK public finances and policy options.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The inequality of 'good jobs'
Q: Before I ask how have good jobs changed, what is a good job in your mind?
A good job is multidimensional, including pay and benefits, but also terms and conditions, security, predictability of hours, health and well-being, opportunities for progression, job design, and voice or representation in decision-making.
The tough fiscal reality facing the UK government
Q: Why are we worried about the current budget versus the investment budget?
Because current spending funds day-to-day operations, while investment spending is future-oriented; balancing current spending helps debt dynamics, but investment can still be financed if it supports growth and productivity.
The tough fiscal reality facing the UK government
Q: Chris, why should people care about the fiscal situation?
Because everything the government does—pensions, health, education, policing—depends on public finances being in order, so stability and credible plans matter for everyday outcomes.
How to fix income tax
Q: Why have the income tax rates and thresholds not been increasing much of late?
The thresholds have been frozen, leading to more people paying tax and higher rates, as fiscal drag causes individuals to cross into higher tax brackets without actual increases in income.
How to fix income tax
Q: How does income tax work to begin with?
Income tax is a tax on income broadly defined, applicable to earnings from various sources including employment and dividends, with different rates and thresholds governing its collection.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About IFS Zooms In: The Economy

What is IFS Zooms In: The Economy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers in-depth, data-driven analysis of UK public finances, economics, and policy, with frequent guests from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and other think tanks. Episodes tackle pensions, inequality, regional disparities, energy, local government funding, and fiscal rules, often weighing policy options against empirical evidence. A notable strength is the rigorous, numbers-first approach from researchers, with accessible explanations that help practitioners and informed listeners understand complex trade-offs. A few episodes feature external commentators from media and academia, offering broader perspectives while keeping the discussion grounded in data. Listeners are likely drawn to policy nuance, long-run impacts of gov... more

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Which podcasts are similar to IFS Zooms In: The Economy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with IFS Zooms In: The Economy:

1. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
2. The Rest Is Money
3. Political Fix
4. Political Currency
5. The Politics Show

How many episodes of IFS Zooms In: The Economy are there?

IFS Zooms In: The Economy launched 6 years ago and published 193 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on IFS Zooms In: The Economy?

Recent guests on IFS Zooms In: The Economy include:

1. Heidi Karjalainen
2. Max Warner
3. Naomi Clayton
4. Paul Johnson
5. Jonathan Cribb
6. Chris Giles
7. Dieter Helm
8. Peter Levell

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