The Institute for Fiscal Studies is a leading microeconomic research institute. IFS was launched with the principal aim of better informing public debate on economics in order to promote the development of effective fiscal policy.

Its research not only has an impact on policy makers, think tanks and practitioners, it has also gained a worldwide reputation for academic rigour, and contributes to the development of academic scholarship.

IFS is host to the Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy which analyses fiscal policy to determine its effects on households and companies. The Institute’s work covers the full extent of policy impact, investigating the ways in which policies influence human capital investments, work and occupational choice, firm behaviour, saving and retirement decisions, consumer choices and the public finances.