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Mike Brewer

@mikebrewerecon.bsky.social

5.2K followers 1K following 210 posts

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

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Economics 26%

Political science 22%

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Mike Brewer

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 20h

"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. 🙄

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

LSE Inequalities @lseinequalities.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Mike Brewer @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Reposted by Mike Brewer, Melanie Simms

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 3d

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

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 10d

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.

⬇️

1. the good news
Real Household Disposable Incomes (RHDI) have grown by a healthy £1,100 over the past 18 months (between the end of 2023 and mid 2025).

2. the bad news
So why don’t we feel richer?

Because incomes this summer were still £110 lower than they were in 2021, just before the cost of living crisis started.

3. beneath the averages

RHDI tells us about averages, but this recent growth will not have been shared evenly.

Food prices are rising sharply. Energy bills are going up right when the temperature is going down. Private rents are out-pacing wages.

Many families are still feeling the pinch.

4. lots of ground to make up

Over the past twenty years, Britain's living standards slowdown has cost families £20,000 a year in lost income.

Lifting living standards is the defining challenge facing Britain today.

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Mike Brewer @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social · 11d

...while also diminishing the importance of the remaining contributory benefits?

Reposted by Mike Brewer, Anand Menon, Tim Leunig

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 15d

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 ⤵️

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Mike Brewer

Nye Cominetti @nyecominetti.bsky.social · 17d

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

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Mike Brewer, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 8 more Jonathan Portes, Mike Brewer, Elizabeth Stokoe, Lesley A. Hall, Justin Lewis, Graham Dutfield, Steven Fielding, David D. Buck, Colm O’Cinneíde, Nicolai von Ondarza, Richard Moorhead

Tom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 18d

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...

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Mike Brewer @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social · 21d

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

Reposted by Mike Brewer

JamesSmithRF @jamessmithrf.bsky.social · 24d

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...

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Mike Brewer @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social · Sep 9

bsky.app/profile/mrjo...

John Crace @mrjohncrace.bsky.social · Sep 9

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reality begins to kick in for Badenoch – though it’s not really her fault | John Crace

Talking about the welfare bill in front of the cameras, the Conservative leader rages against her inner futility

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins

Mike Brewer @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social · Sep 9

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

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

John Crace @mrjohncrace.bsky.social · Sep 9

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reality begins to kick in for Badenoch – though it’s not really her fault | John Crace

Talking about the welfare bill in front of the cameras, the Conservative leader rages against her inner futility

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 8

🚨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

Advert for event Stronger Shock Absorbers. One Wednesday 10th September at 11am - 12.15pm.

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Reposted by Mike Brewer, Max Nathan

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 2

🚨 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

Image with text: We're hiring! Principal Economist or Researcher ( Fixed term - 15 months)
Design and deliver an ambitious programme of research and policy on tax. Apply by 08:59am on Sept 19th

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Mike Brewer, Melanie Simms , and 2 more Jonathan Portes, Mike Brewer, Melanie Simms, Jill Rutter, Sarah Hall

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Sep 2

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/???

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

JamesSmithRF @jamessmithrf.bsky.social · Aug 28

A quick word on today's ONS household cost indices which are the key metric for inflation experience across different household groups. Key takeaway from this morning's data (to June) is that inflation for poorer families is once again picking up...

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Mike Brewer @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social · Jul 31

I had such a good time going to Orkney one summer. 18 degrees was a hot day.

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Molly Broome @mollybroome.bsky.social · Jul 31

New workplace pension participation statistics were published this morning, revealing that certain groups remain at greater risk of heading into retirement with insufficient savings. Here’s what you need to know 🧵

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Alex Hern @hern.bsky.social · Mar 26

Fully switched my view on fuel duty in the last few years. Labour needs to scrap it ASAP and replace it with an equal revenue tax that covers EVs. If it waits any longer the revenue loss will be a massive fight to replace

Jack Kessler @jackkessler.bsky.social · Mar 25

The OBR forecast now assumes fuel duty will rise by 5p in March 2026 and uprated by RPI in every year from April 2026. Yet the reversal of the 5p cut has been delayed three times and
fuel duty has not been uprated with RPI since 2011! obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...

OBR graphic showing fuel duty forecasts versus outturns, showing the impact of various freezes and the 5p cut

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Mar 27

The big-picture outlook for living standards remains grim after the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

It’s particularly dismal for the poorer half of Britain, who are set to become £500 a year poorer over the Parliament.

Here’s what you need to know 🧵 ⤵️ buff.ly/5CHyJII

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · May 6

On Friday afternoon, the Govt published the evidence pack for its Pathways to Work Green Paper.

It confirms that the Govt's PIP cut will hit older people hardest, despite all the rhetoric about focusing on 'snowflake' young people.

A quick thread...

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · May 21

Not clear precisely what Kier Starmer has actually announced on winter fuel payments. The most sensible thing would be to link eligibility to a winder range of benefits that just pension credit, cost £300m and extend winter fuel payments to 1.3 million more pensioners.

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

The New Statesman @handle.invalid · May 21

Austerity’s Children – a special issue of Spotlight, the New Statesman’s policy supplement, guest edited by Gordon Brown.

Inside:
🔴Alison McGovern
🔴Rachel de Souza
🔴Mike Brewer
🔴Tom Clark
🔴Harry Quilter-Pinner
🔴and more

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Josh Self @josh.politics.co.uk · May 27

Farage committed to:

— Abolishing the two-child benefit cap
— Tax breaks for married couples
— Lift the income tax threshold to £20,000 a year

Funded by:

— Getting rid of net zero
— Scrapping “the DEI agenda”
— Closing asylum hotels
— Defunding certain quangos

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · May 30

For this week's Top of the Charts, Ruth has (temporarily) handed the reins back to @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social‬ 📈

With reads on the changing shape of health and wellbeing in modern economies and...Polish donuts?🍩

Read now➡️ buff.ly/LI3dKNG

Reposted by Mike Brewer

Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · Jun 9

Today the Government announced that Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be extended to all pensioners with income below £35,000, with the payments to be restored from this winter. A quick thread on what this means and how it will work...

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · Jun 11

And we're off. Rachel Reeves stands up to deliver the spending review....

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Reposted by Mike Brewer

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Jun 11

The Chancellor has delivered her Spending Review. Any questions?

Join us tomorrow morning to learn whether it's delivered for middle Britain ⤵️ buff.ly/CqKcssE

🗣️ Andy King, ‪@drhannahwhite.bsky.social‬‬, @rachelsylvester.bsky.social‬, @jamessmithrf.bsky.social‬ and @ruthcurtice.bsky.social‬.

Event graphic for Third time lucky
Has the Spending review delivered for middle Britain?

Thursday 12 June 9.00am

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