Mike Brewer
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mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
Mike Brewer
@mikebrewerecon.bsky.social

Deputy Chief Executive Resolution Foundation & 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

Economics 26%
Political science 22%

Reposted by Mike Brewer

"It will certainly take political courage to stick to these plans."

@ruthcurtice.bsky.social has everything you need to know about the Budget, in two minutes ⏰ ⤵️

And highlights how pointless the speech is.

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Live posting about the speech feels slightly unnecessary when all the details are out. But I'm a sucker for tradition nonetheless.

Surely you've already read it ? Kaboomtish

8 out of 11 but one was a silly mistake so I'm giving myself 8.5.

(Btw this is what Chancellors do when they get OBR forecasts 🤣)

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets? on.ft.com/3XAbkGa
Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets?
Test your knowledge of the set-piece political event with our questions on the financial statements of yesteryear
on.ft.com
In 2023 @tom-clark.bsky.social got me to write a chapter for his book on UK poverty about how immigration limbo, which Labour wants more of, makes people destitute. It was the most distressing piece I've ever worked on. We sent a copy to every MP. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/6081...
Destitute by design: trapped in the immigration system
Migration policy is not only failing people forced to arrive in Britain by boats. In an extract from a new edited volume, Daniel Trilling reports on t...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

Reposted by Mike Brewer

New spotlight from me covering what the latest inflation data means for benefit uprating out now. Here’s a quick summary:

We are keen to hear from individuals withexperience working in government, think tanks, applied academic research, or the private sector.

This is a permanent role at our Westminster office. Applications for full-time or part-time hours are welcome.

www.resolutionfoundation.org/about-us/opp...

This is a high-profile role, and successful applicants will need experience of leading major research or policy programmes, and line managing a team of high-performing individuals. Post-graduate level economics (or equivalent work experience) is essential.

New week, new job at Resolution Foundation?

We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Meant to read it when it came out. @chrisgiles.ft.com makes the case that costs are NOT spiralling, and UK welfare doesn't deserve its moral panic. on.ft.com/4hfE9kr

Reposted by Mike Brewer

📢 New analysis!

What is the OBR’s forecast for trend productivity growth, and why does it matter so much for the Budget?

Find out more here ⤵️ buff.ly/KmJEg1Y
"The wealth tax debate shouldn’t be separate from the one about how we tax property and pensions – that’s where most of the country’s wealth sits."  c/o @resfoundation.bsky.social Bet it will continue to be, though. 🙄

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Missed our recent Inequalities Seminar?

@katymorris.bsky.social explores the effects of income misperceptions on inequality beliefs and preferences, comparing the local and national levels.

Watch now ⬇️
LSE III Event | Local versus National: The effect of income (mis)perceptions on inequality beliefs
Part of the Inequalities Seminar Series Tuesday 30 September, 12.30 - 1.30pm. In-person and online seminar. CBG 2.03. Speaker: Dr Katy Morris, Postdoctoral Fellow, Swedish Institute for Social…
youtu.be

My small contribution to today's great RF report on wealth inequality was to have us headline with the metric for measuring wealth gaps that I first came across in the work of the late John Hills

www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
Lifetime of earnings not enough for UK workers to join wealthiest 10%, report says
Research finds it would take average worker saving all their earnings for 52 years to match wealth of richest 10th of society
www.theguardian.com
Great column from @sarahoconnorft.ft.com where she casts her forensic eye over the introduction of collective bargaining in the social care sector. TL:DR it could work given adult care is a weird market largely paid for by local authorities; but as usual will there be enough cash? on.ft.com/4mSfeVm
The most radical Labour plan you haven’t heard about
Collective bargaining in social care could save an ailing sector — but only if it’s done properly
on.ft.com

Reposted by Mike Brewer

There's good news and bad news on household incomes.

While we've seen healthy income growth in the past 18 months, incomes have yet to recover from the cost of living crisis.

⬇️

...while also diminishing the importance of the remaining contributory benefits?
Amid reports that MPs and an advisory taskforce will recommend scrapping the two-child limit on benefits, it's worth noting that this step would be the most targeted and cost-effective way for the Government to meet its aim of reducing child poverty ⤵️
Helpful and easy to read blog from ONS on their improvements to labour market stats. More of this kind of thing, please ! Couple of things to highlight
blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/09/23/l...
Lifting the lid on our work to improve labour market statistics
The ONS’s new Director-General for Surveys and Economic and Social Statistics, James Benford, talks through work going on beyond the scenes to improve our statistics after a week with several major
blog.ons.gov.uk
Useful reminder from Peter Kellner on the problems we refuse to acknowledge are getting better, and the politics of hopelessness that this breeds

open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...

You now own two inflatable kayaks and a set of garden furniture.

Reposted by Mike Brewer

UK CPI inflation was 3.8% in August, in line with market and BoE expectations. Below the top line there was some good news on underlying inflation but food price inflation accelerated to 5.1%, increasing pressure on struggling families. Short thread to follow...

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins

Not too late to sign up for our event on low-to-middle income Britain's financial resilience (on tomorrow/Wednesday morning).

www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/stron...
Stronger shock absorbers • Resolution Foundation
Savings are supposed to be the first line of defence against financial shocks. But in reality, millions of families across Britain don’t have enough to be more than a few pay-days away from trouble. F...
www.resolutionfoundation.org

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Reposted by Mike Brewer

🚨Event Wednesday🚨

Savings are supposed to be the first line of defence against financial shocks. But in reality, millions of families across Britain don’t have enough to be more than a few pay-days away from trouble.

Join us and our expert panel to discuss.

Register ➡️ buff.ly/8qwdAnr
🚨 We're hiring for a Principal Economist 👀

This is a unique opportunity for an individual who can conduct economic and policy analysis independently at an advanced level.

Full details here ⤵️ buff.ly/2mcx5aR
IT'S OUT! @ukandeu.bsky.social brand new survey of the policy challenges confronting the UK, done in partnership with the wonderful @resfoundation.bsky.social ukandeu.ac.uk/reports/poli... 1/???