With #council election results rolling in, here’s a timely reminder about my and Tony Travers’ @theIFS podcast on councils’ finances, and why they’re under pressure

Hopefully interesting and informative for interested citizens and new councillors alike!

Looks like #Swinney will be the next SNP leader.

He was Finance Minister when Scotland's Fiscal Framework was negotiated in 2015/16. Recent revisions address some shortcomings but not all as my @theIFS comment explains. Something for the in-tray?

ifs.org.uk/articles/immed…

New @theIFS analysis shows how UK has gone from relatively low to relatively high debt over the last 25 years. Why?

💷Govt spending increased by more than taxes.
🦠Particularly big impacts of financial crisis & COVID.
📉Weak growth since 2016.

Read: ifs.org.uk/articles/spend…

Do you believe prudence is a virtue?

Or is it overrated?

My colleagues at @theIFS have put together a 'Be your own Chancellor' tool to let you choose tax & spending policy, and see how this affects govt borrowing and debt.

Really clear way to see the trade-offs post-election.

Just a few more days to go to submit to the @theIFS ODI, World Bank Public Finance conference.

If your paper addresses issues of how tax, social security and social assistance policies affect growth & structural transformation.. we want it!

📗➡️🌍⬇️

New @theIFS report shows that investment in joined up support for deprived young children can have big long-lasting impacts (e.g. on GCSE results).

With money tight, next govt may face tough choices over priorities: childcare for working families or support for disadvantaged?