Peter Levell
@peterlevell.bsky.social
Economist. Deputy Research Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social. https://sites.google.com/view/peter-levell/home
One day to go until Tarun's seminar! Sign up at the link below if you haven't already. #EconSky
Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series@micmachf.bsky.social · 3mo ago🚨Seminar announcement! In our next seminar Tarun Ramadorai will present his new book "Fixed: Why personal finance is broken and how to make it work for everyone" with a discussion by @KimPeijnenburg! 🕐15:30 BST/16:30 CET 📅12th June 2026 Register here: tinyurl.com/y964zjkz Join us! #EconSky
Ever wondered why electricity in the UK is so expensive? And how can renewables be both “nine times cheaper” than fossil fuel but still need subsidies to get built? Then you need to listen to this podcast!
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · 3mo agoNEW PODCAST: Why is UK electricity so expensive? @helenmiller.bsky.social, @peterlevell.bsky.social & Dieter Helm discuss Britain’s energy mix, the costs of renewables, net zero targets, and how policy should respond to energy price shocks. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/why...
Very excited about this seminar! Do register!
Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series@micmachf.bsky.social · 3mo ago🚨Seminar announcement! In our next seminar Tarun Ramadorai will present his new book "Fixed: Why personal finance is broken and how to make it work for everyone" with a discussion by @KimPeijnenburg! 🕐15:30 BST/16:30 CET 📅12th June 2026 Register here: tinyurl.com/y964zjkz Join us! #EconSky
Some incredibly important findings here for housing policy. The demand-side policies adopting the last couple of decades mostly helped relatively high earners
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW: ‘Help to Buy’ schemes mainly increased affordability for higher earners living in cheap areas, with limited impact on social mobility 🧵 @beeboileau.bsky.social, Lucas Conwell and @peterlevell.bsky.social’s new research examines the impact of Help to Buy on housing affordability: [THREAD]
The new "sugar tax" in 2018 cut average sugar consumed by about 20kcal a day. The latest reforms are best seen as a tidying up exercise. Read @gautamvyas.bsky.social and Martin Brogaard's new analysis of the reforms below. And follow @gautamvyas.bsky.social for more analysis of nutrition policy!
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW: Extensions to the soft drinks sugar levy announced last autumn will affect 12% of soft drinks, but are forecast to have a tiny impact on average sugar consumption. 📊 Martin Brogaard and @gautamvyas.bsky.social’s new report examines changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy: [THREAD]
Key context to talk about the cost of any potential energy support package: an energy price shock is already bad news in itself for the public finances. Higher inflation and interest rates would push up debt interest spending, welfare spending, and put pressure on public services.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · 5mo agoNew: War in the Middle East has pushed up energy prices, which if sustained, could put pressure on households and the public finances. How might the government choose to respond? 📈 @peterlevell.bsky.social, @nickridpath.bsky.social and Bobbie Upton’s new briefing explores the options:
New: War in the Middle East has pushed up energy prices, which if sustained, could put pressure on households and the public finances. How might the government choose to respond? 📈 @peterlevell.bsky.social, @nickridpath.bsky.social and Bobbie Upton’s new briefing explores the options:
NEW PODCAST: Did inflation cause the cost of living crisis? 🎧 @helenmiller.bsky.social, @peterlevell.bsky.social and former Bank of England MPC member David Miles investigate inflation: what it is, why it's been high recently, who it hits hardest and more. Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/did...
Are you an outstanding communicator who knows loads about the UK public finances? Are you attracted by the prospect of a public voice, and the chance to work alongside brilliant economists at the country's finest think tank? We'd like to hear from you: app.beapplied.com/apply/4t6eys...
Senior Research Economist (Public Finances)
Background to the roleThe Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is Europe’s leading centre for research on the microeconomics of public policy. It is a politically independent registered educational char...
app.beapplied.com
Ben Zaranko@benzaranko.bsky.social · 7mo ago🚨Rare and exciting opportunity 🚨 We're looking to hire an exceptional economist to work on fiscal policy at the IFS. We don't do this often. It's a chance to shape, carry out and communicate research on some of the highest-profile topics in UK economic policy. [1/4]
Here's a starter pack of IFS economists posting on BlueSky. Make sure you're following them all for the top-quality economic analysis on labour markets, inequality, public finances, healthcare, education and more! go.bsky.app/NYPwMB
Excited about discussing regional inequalities at the Fiscal Studies symposium event next week! We've got a star-studded lineup of @andyburnham.bsky.social, Paul Collier, Philip McCann, @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social, @amcanning.bsky.social and more. Summary of new papers below 🧵👇
How can policy tackle regional inequalities? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
At this policy conference, researchers will present new evidence on the scale and causes of regional inequalities.
ifs.org.uk
How have rising house prices in the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s affected young people's social mobility? Sign up for our event with @helenmiller.bsky.social and @peterlevell.bsky.social at 10am on Monday on new research on how rising house prices affected inequalities ⬇️ ifs.org.uk/events/what-...
What happened to the children of the property boom? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
At this online event, IFS researchers will discuss how rising house prices shaped young people’s social mobility.
ifs.org.uk
Absolutely delighted our research has won the ONS' Research Excellence prize for impact! I always say to people that the ideal @theifs.bsky.social work is rigorous enough to publish in top journals, and relevant enough to be on the front page. I think we've ticked that box here!
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · 8mo agoWe're pleased to share that our report on the effects of Sure Start on children’s outcomes has won the 'Impact of Analysis' Award in this year's ONS Research Excellence Awards. 🏆 Find out more: ifs.org.uk/news/ifs-sur...
Late to this but really excellent news. And for those interested in economic measurement, the call for the @escoeorg.bsky.social annual conference (19-21 May, KCL London) is now open. Keynotes by Carol Corrado, Xavier Jaravel and Canada's Chief Statistician. Submit by 12 January.
ESCoE Conference on Economic Measurement 2026 - Call for papers open - ESCoE
ESCoE will hold its annual conference, organised in partnership with the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), on 19-21 May 2026.
escoe.ac.uk
Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham@paulgp.com · 9mo agoNBER grants to fund research into economic measurement - I find this agenda very compelling and important #linkoftheday www.nber.org/news/nber-la...
Congratulations to Christine and her collaborators - great to see this fine body of work get the recognition it deserves!
Christine Farquharson@ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 9mo agoAbsolutely delighted that our @theifs.bsky.social work evaluating the effects of Sure Start centres won the "Publication of the Year" prize at last night's @smartthinking.bsky.social awards! It's wonderful to be recognised for the quality and impact of our work. ifs.org.uk/publications...
There will be lots of speculation about tax over the next 6 weeks, for better or worse. This chapter is a plea for the government to think about how to make the system work better, rather than just raise the taxes which pose fewest short-term political hurdles. Some highlights:
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · 10mo agoNEW: Rachel Reeves needs a plan for a better tax system, not a half-baked dash for revenue. 📗 Stuart Adam, Isaac Delestre and @helenmiller.bsky.social's new IFS Green Budget chapter examines the Chancellor’s options for tax increases: ifs.org.uk/publications...
Next seminar: @peterlevell.bsky.social (Institute for Fiscal Studies) joint work with Martin O'Connell and Kate Smith will be presenting "The welfare effects of price shocks and household relief packages: evidence from an energy crisis" on Oct 15, 12.00 CET. www.bde.es/wbe/en/areas... #bdeResearch
New at JIE: "Household responses to trade shocks" by Aitor Irastorza-Fadrique (@aitor-if.bsky.social), Peter Levell (@peterlevell.bsky.social), Matthias Parey doi.org/10.1016/j.ji...
NEW: Honouring the NATO commitment to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 would reshape the British state. @maxwarner.bsky.social & @beeboileau.bsky.social's new IFS Green Budget chapter, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, examines the past and future of UK defence spending: [THREAD:]
Do join us for this!
Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series@micmachf.bsky.social · 11mo ago🚨We're delighted to announce our next seminar! Rebecca Diamond will be presenting "Where is Standard of Living the Highest? Local Prices and the Geography of Consumption" with a discussion by Cristian Badarinza When? 🗓️ Friday 3rd October 15:30-17:00 BST Register here tinyurl.com/mrnbu48w
Had a good chat on @moneybox.bsky.social with @paullewismoney.bsky.social about our Pensions Review work and what we should do about the triple lock and automatic enrolment – you can listen to it here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Money Box - Future of Pensions and Heat Networks - BBC Sounds
A wide-reaching report makes recommendations about the future of pensions.
bbc.co.uk
Really looking forward to this - it's going to be great!
The Institute for Fiscal Studies@theifs.bsky.social · last yr.EVENT: IFS Annual Lecture: Trade Wars and the Future of Globalisation Tue 20 May | 18:30–20:00 | The View, RCS England This year's lecture will be presented by @meredith-crowley.bsky.social Find out more and sign up: ifs.org.uk/events/ifs-a...
A nice write up of our research as part of @escoeorg.bsky.social on local consumption spending. More info (and interactive graphics!) here! ifs.org.uk/articles/whi...
Which places have the highest standard of living? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
Measuring living standards using average household spending gives a starkly different picture of regional inequalities than using average income.
ifs.org.uk
Chris Giles@chrisgiles.ft.com · last yr.Standing in for the Inside Politics newsletter today, I had some fin with the question of who is "well-off"? But mostly I had a go at the notion that people in London are really rich and that regulators should do redistribution on.ft.com/4jdbTyW
How much do living standards vary across the country? ESCoE/ @theifs.bsky.social work finds that measuring living standards using average household spending gives a starkly different picture of regional inequalities than using average household income tinyurl.com/bfzajkr5 @peterlevell.bsky.social
Congratulations to @helenmiller.bsky.social on her appointment as the next director of the IFS! Give her a follow! ifs.org.uk/news/helen-m...
Helen Miller appointed as new Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies | Institute for Fiscal Studies
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is delighted to announce that Helen Miller has been appointed as its next Director.
ifs.org.uk
NEW PODCAST: Do tariffs work? @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social and @peterlevell.bsky.social discuss the economic consequences of tariffs, why governments use them, and whether they actually achieve their intended goals. ➡️ Listen to the podcast here: ifs.org.uk/articles/do-...
Do tariffs work? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
We discuss the economic consequences of tariffs, why governments use them, and whether they actually achieve their intended goals.
ifs.org.uk
Our IFS report on air pollution is out! Good news first: air pollution (PM2.5) has HALVED in England since 2003, with a big drop during Covid. There's no rebound post Covid, somewhat puzzlingly. We use DEFRA data, monitoring station data shows the same thing. (1/7) ifs.org.uk/publications...
Exposure to air pollution in England, 2003–23 | Institute for Fiscal Studies
We set out how air pollution (PM2.5) has changed across England and explore inequalities by ethnicity, income deprivation, region and age.
ifs.org.uk
Our paper on cheapflation is now an ESCoE discussion paper
ESCoE@escoeorg.bsky.social · 2y agoA new ESCoE discussion paper from @taochen.bsky.social @uclofficial.bsky.social, @peterlevell.bsky.social @theifs.bsky.social and Martin O'Connell delves into "cheapflation" during the COVID-19 pandemic. 🛒Paper. ➡️ tinyurl.com/53xp5y6z 🛒Webinar recording. ➡️ tinyurl.com/msc3r4z4
