There may be other reasons to give pubs a tax break, but it's hard to see how taxing some businesses more and other businesses less can be a cost of living policy change.
Mike Brewer
@mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
Deputy Chief Executive Resolution Foundation, CPAG Trustee & Visiting Prof in Practice at LSE Social Policy. 'Calm, Measured, Withering' http://tinyurl.com/y6wxlxhj). 'Cool, calm analysis' (More or Less, 8/10/25). He/him
Who gains from a VAT cut on electricity? The lower-income 40% of households get about a third of the foregone revenue.
Jonny Marshall@jonnymarshall.bsky.social · 2w agoThe Government has today announced that VAT on electricity bills will be cut from 5% to 0% from October, saving the typical household around £45 a year 1/
Cutting VAT on electricity will provide a welcome reduction in the bill that has been at the heart of the cost of living crisis. But it will not provide significant support for those most exposed to rising gas prices this winter.
Best laid plans.... For 23 of the 31 fiscal events since its founding, the OBR has projected the Government’s current budget to be in balance by the end of each five-year forecast period. But reality has almost never lived up to expectations @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social explores👇️ buff.ly/Tm63uDh
Ahead of Reeves delivering what most people assume will be her final Mansion House speech we’ve been looking at the data on how the economic picture has changed over the past two years. What is Reeves’ legacy?
The Resolution Foundation is hiring! We are looking for an exceptional individual with a passion for improving living standards and the skills to lead a world-class research and policy organisation, to become a Director. Application pack available here ⤵️ buff.ly/xcFddMf
It is with great regret that we are announcing the imminent closure of the High Pay Centre.
Our new working paper with @lse-sticerd-case.bsky.social lays out the foundations for an extreme wealth line 📉 It examines the harms that excess wealth causes to people, societies, economies, democracies and the planet. @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social, @michaelvaughan.bsky.social 🔗 buff.ly/h8nKk6t
"Starmer said: “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to." I am basically the least fun person ever in the history of the world, but wouldn't it be cool to show football matches in places that don't sell alcohol? www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Keir Starmer to allow pubs to stay open until 5am for England v Mexico match
PM says ‘whole country will be backing the team’ for 1am game, as licensing hours extended after fierce backlash
theguardian.com
I'm stepping down to a new role in the autumn to try to get a bit more "life" in the "work - life balance" thing, so there's a vacancy to do my job: overseeing the research and policy output of RF. What a fab job for someone.
Ruth Curtice@ruthcurtice.bsky.social · last mo.Lots of jobs changing at the moment - but let's focus on the most important. I am recruiting for a new partner in crime. Take a look, and get in touch if you want to help us deliver higher living standards across the UK, with an incredible team. www.resolutionfoundation.org/director/
We @lalithatry.bsky.social @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social @charliemccurdy.bsky.social @jamietg.bsky.social have published a report (funded by @cpc-cg.bsky.social) on today’s under-30s’ living standards & what policymakers should do. www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications... 👇 🧵with key findings.
They’re coming home • Resolution Foundation
Given Britain’s resurgent ‘NEET’ problem, a rise of living with parents, and intensified political debate on the prospects of young people, this briefing note provides an assessment of the living stan...
resolutionfoundation.org
Wealth, power and fairness: in conversation with @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social - the @resolutionfoundation.org Deputy Chief Executive on why the absolute size of wealth gaps matters as much as the relative ones, what extreme wealth does to power, and much more...
Wealth, power and fairness: in conversation with Mike Brewer
The Resolution Foundation's Deputy Chief Executive on why the absolute size of wealth gaps matters as much as the relative ones, what extreme wealth does to power, and much more...
faircomment.co.uk
Anyone who can lower the temperature next week gets my support as PM , FWIW.
Can't believe everyone has forgotten our "Summer olympic medals per GDP" table... www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/fewe...
Fewer days vs fewer hours, the importance of watercoolers, and the true Olympic Champions • Resolution Foundation
Morning all, Well, from a living standards perspective, this week’s economic data has been confusing. Slower wage growth doesn’t sound great for workers, but it’s probably a good thing if it lets the ...
resolutionfoundation.org
Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social · 2mo agoGrenada won two medals in Paris and has a population smaller than Cheltenham so I think they win on a pure per capita basis...
I had no idea men played soccer, too! Good for them! Go boy soccer!! ⚽️
As debates rage about where to get the money for higher defence spending, it’s important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around. Thread 🧵⤵️
In our latest substack, @ruthcurtice.bsky.social takes a closer look at the 'defence versus welfare spending' debate, and explains why it's important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around⤵️
Defence versus welfare – the trade-off is being misrepresented
Ruth Curtice takes a closer look at the 'defence versus welfare spending' debate, and explains why it's important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around.
buff.ly
Me doing Top of the Charts again, and no it's not ALL about the triple lock.
Resolution Foundation@resolutionfoundation.org · 2mo agoIs there an alternative path to the poorly designed and less effective than hoped triple lock? In Chart of the Week, we consider alternative uprating mechanisms and what they would have meant for pension values. That and more in Top of the Charts here➡️ buff.ly/YdqarcE
🧵It’s time to stop being polite about the triple lock! It was always a poorly designed, unfair, arbitrary ratchet and we can no longer afford it. New @resolutionfoundation.org spotlight out this morning🧵 www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
What a ratchet! • Resolution Foundation
The State Pension triple lock has delivered real gains for pensioners since its introduction in 2012. But the case for boosting pensioner incomes over and above others has now run out, while the case ...
resolutionfoundation.org
Guess who’s in London and excited for our talks this week at the Resolution Foundation (tomorrow) and the LSE (Thursday)?!!?? PS the ukulele may or may not be making an appearance tomorrow - but only in person so you should DEFINITELY brave the tube strike
This is a really important piece of work (h/t for pointing me to it @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social)
‘I love it, but I hate it’ - Young people's experiences and expectations of growing up digital - Nuffield Foundation
nuffieldfoundation.org
I got to write Top of the Charts again (did you miss me?) Soaring temperatures, booming Manchester, struggling carers, over-internet-ted young people, Marx Vs Smith, and rising up the NEETs league table (in a bad way). www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/boil...
Boiling Britain, booming Manchester and banning social media • Resolution Foundation
Morning all, Mike here, filling in for Ruth this week. What a week it’s been – and only four days long! The hottest ever day in May, temperatures rising in the Labour party, and the not-so-cool news t...
resolutionfoundation.org
How are coding agents changing how we study the economy, society and politics? New results from a baseline survey with @tomlyttelton.bsky.social and Maxim Massenkoff, about who is using AI coding agents and what they're doing with them.
If you need persuading of the importance of education funding / structures to UK's NEET problem, this chart was my best attempt at making that point. UK has *higher* % of YP in straight-employment than almost all OECD countries. But still manages higher NEET rates because ed participation so low
Nye Cominetti @nyecominetti.bsky.social · 3mo ago2. Education. Mechanically, reducing the NEET rate means getting more young people into education or work. Almost all the countries with lower NEET rates than the UK do this via higher education participation. So that seems the main place to look for improvement.
It could be the algorithm, or it could be real life, but my impression is that at least 90% of the people with a take on T Blair's take are male.
New @resolutionfoundation.org Substack with @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social on #Pension Commission interim report. Boosting pension saving must account for lower earners' financial fragility. Triple Lock & decumulation changes are also needed. resolutionfoundation.substack.com/p/future-proofing
Future proofing
How worried should people be about their pensions? Mike Brewer and Parth Pandya break down the key takeaways from the Pensions Commission’s interim report.
resolutionfoundation.substack.com
Apparently even places that are bang average are "left behind" now www.economist.com/britain/2026...
RF will of course have some serious analysis of the Chancellor's spending measures today, but in the mean time can I come here to say that it's no longer "bread and circuses" but "happy meals and circuses".
Really valuable work published this morning from @peterhyman.bsky.social and Shaub Gamote. Started reading and am hooked. Gives the results of a huge listening exercise with young people, many NEET, who seem to have spoken very freely. onemillionfutures.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Inside the Mind of a Young NEET
Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote
onemillionfutures.substack.com