Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Journal of International Economics @jintlecon.bsky.social · 10d

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...

1 2 4

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 14d

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:]

Chart shows defence spending out-turn and plans. Title states: "Meeting the NATO defence spending commitment would be equivalent to spending an extra £36 billion, or £500 per person, a year in current terms."

1 2 3

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · 27d

Do join us for this!

Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series @micmachf.bsky.social · 27d

🚨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

1

Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series @micmachf.bsky.social · 27d

🚨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

1 3 2

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · Feb 4

Fascinating (no, really!).

The way UK inflation is worked out is changing – and it will matter for everyone

Gathering data on consumer prices and the products we’re really buying will become far more precise, giving a better picture of how we deal with rising costs.

theconversation.com

14 20 43

Heidi Karjalainen @heidikarj.bsky.social · Jul 8

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

2 3

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Apr 21

Really looking forward to this - it's going to be great!

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Apr 16

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...

IFS Annual Lecture: Trade Wars and the Future of Globalisation | Institute for Fiscal Studies

Professor Meredith Crowley will deliver the 2025 IFS Annual Lecture.

ifs.org.uk

2 2

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Apr 17

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...

2 11

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Apr 16

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...

IFS Annual Lecture: Trade Wars and the Future of Globalisation | Institute for Fiscal Studies

Professor Meredith Crowley will deliver the 2025 IFS Annual Lecture.

ifs.org.uk

2 5

ESCoE @escoeorg.bsky.social · Apr 11

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

Gautam Vyas, Research Economist at the IFS, ESCoE Research Associate, and an author of the paper, said:

“People care deeply about regional inequalities, but rankings of living standards across areas depend greatly on how you measure them. Our findings challenge the conventional wisdom that the typical London household enjoys higher living standards than their counterparts across the country. Rather, it seems that a combination of higher housing costs and differences in saving behaviour implies that high incomes do not translate into higher consumption spending for Londoners.”

2 2

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Mar 20

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

2 11

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Jan 24

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

2 2

Lucie Gadenne @lgadenne.bsky.social · Dec 9

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

3 21 51

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Nov 27

Our paper on cheapflation is now an ESCoE discussion paper

ESCoE @escoeorg.bsky.social · Nov 27

A 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

Image shows groceries arranged in the shape of an upwards arrow

1 4

ESCoE @escoeorg.bsky.social · Nov 27

A 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

1 4

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Nov 22

Check at our tool to see how house prices, and the housing stock, has changed in your local area

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Nov 22

NEW: How have house prices and house building changed across England since 1996?

📈 Explore how house prices and house building have changed in your area, and compare how responsive construction has been to prices, with our interactive map: ifs.org.uk/calculators/...

[THREAD: 1/8]

3 6

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Nov 22

NEW: How have house prices and house building changed across England since 1996?

📈 Explore how house prices and house building have changed in your area, and compare how responsive construction has been to prices, with our interactive map: ifs.org.uk/calculators/...

[THREAD: 1/8]

2 11 22

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Nov 12

My colleague @maxwarner.bsky.social is new to BlueSky- follow him for excellent research on the evolving state of the NHS!

Max Warner @maxwarner.bsky.social · Nov 12

NEW: Is NHS hospital productivity starting to rebound?
Over the last few years, @benzaranko.bsky.social and I have written and talked a lot about the NHS productivity problem. In a new @theifs.bsky.social comment (with new colleague Olly Harvey-Rich) we look at productivity over the last year.
1/12

1 3

Max Warner @maxwarner.bsky.social · Nov 12

NEW: Is NHS hospital productivity starting to rebound?
Over the last few years, @benzaranko.bsky.social and I have written and talked a lot about the NHS productivity problem. In a new @theifs.bsky.social comment (with new colleague Olly Harvey-Rich) we look at productivity over the last year.
1/12

2 8 8

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Nov 11

On the economics job market? Opportunities for PhDs to join as Research Economists in labour/crime, public finance, and education/nutrition/health at the IFS @theifs.bsky.social
econjobmarket.org/positions/10... #EconSky

EJM - Econ Job Market

econjobmarket.org

2

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Nov 11

Are you on the economics job market? Opportunities for PhDs to join as post docs (one and three year post docs available) @theifs.bsky.social econjobmarket.org/positions/10... #EconSky

EJM - Econ Job Market

econjobmarket.org

1 1

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Nov 11

This is a great opportunity for students wanting to learn more about a career in economics research. Come along to find out more!

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Nov 7

IFS recruitment event: Summer students

Find out more about our summer placement scheme for current university students and meet IFS staff.

Monday 2 December | 5pm to 6pm | Online

Register here: https://buff.ly/4hAhrTV

IFS recruitment event: Summer students | Institute for Fiscal Studies

We're offer an opportunity to meet current IFS staff and find out more about our summer placement scheme for current university students.

buff.ly

1 2

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Nov 7

IFS recruitment event: Summer students

Find out more about our summer placement scheme for current university students and meet IFS staff.

Monday 2 December | 5pm to 6pm | Online

Register here: https://buff.ly/4hAhrTV

IFS recruitment event: Summer students | Institute for Fiscal Studies

We're offer an opportunity to meet current IFS staff and find out more about our summer placement scheme for current university students.

buff.ly

2 1

Liz McKeown @lizmckeown.bsky.social · Nov 5

Delighted to be on the Scientific Committee for next year's annual ESCoE conference which will take place at King's College London from 21-23 May 2025. We've launched the Call for Papers today with more details here: www.escoe.ac.uk/events/escoe... Take a look and get involved!

ESCoE Conference on Economic Measurement 2025 - Call for papers closes 13 Jan 2025 - ESCoE

ESCoE will hold its annual conference, organised in partnership with the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), on 21-23 May 2025.

www.escoe.ac.uk

2 2

Centre for Economic Policy Research @cepr.org · Oct 31

New CEPR Discussion Paper
DP19628 What would you do with £500? (...in your own words)
Thomas Crossley (University of Michigan), @peterlevell.bsky.social (@theifs.bsky.social), Sofía Sierra Vásquez (EUI)
cepr.org/publications...
📉📈 #EconSky
#CEPR_MG #CEPR_PE

A longstanding puzzle in macroeconomics is why individuals with similar levels of available liquidity can have very different marginal propensities to consume (MPCs). We use a new approach to better investigate differences in consumer behaviour in response to hypothetical, one-off gains and losses: using open-ended questions and text analysis to understand the motives underlying consumers decisions. High-liquidity individuals with high MPCs often cite mental accounting motives. Apparently illiquid individuals report a range of coping mechanisms in response to a loss, including labour supply responses, relying on friends and family and selling possessions. This implies greater effective liquidity than narrow financial measures indicate.

1 3

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Oct 30

Looks like it’s going to be a big budget today.

Read my colleagues’ excellent insights here!

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Oct 30

Today the Chancellor will give her first Budget, you can find all of our IFS analysis in our Autumn Budget 2024 collection.

📗 Read here: ifs.org.uk/collections/...

Autumn Budget 2024 | Institute for Fiscal Studies

All our IFS analysis of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget 2024.

ifs.org.uk

2

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Oct 30

Today the Chancellor will give her first Budget, you can find all of our IFS analysis in our Autumn Budget 2024 collection.

📗 Read here: ifs.org.uk/collections/...

Autumn Budget 2024 | Institute for Fiscal Studies

All our IFS analysis of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget 2024.

ifs.org.uk

3

Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · Oct 22

A tip for those interested in household finance - follow @micmachf.bsky.social to get the latest seminar announcements!

#EconSky 📉📈

Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series @micmachf.bsky.social · Oct 22

Abdoulaye Ndiaye will present "Property Taxes and Housing Allocation Under Financial Constraints" with a discussion by Cristian Badarinza

📅November 22nd
⏰10:30 EDT/15:30 London time/16:30 CET
Register here: tinyurl.com/mryx6x3f

#EconSky

Micro Macro Household Finance Seminar Series @micmachf.bsky.social · Oct 22

Abdoulaye Ndiaye will present "Property Taxes and Housing Allocation Under Financial Constraints" with a discussion by Cristian Badarinza

📅November 22nd
⏰10:30 EDT/15:30 London time/16:30 CET
Register here: tinyurl.com/mryx6x3f

#EconSky

1 5 11

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Oct 10

NEW: The new Chancellor has inherited an unenviable public finance situation.

Our IFS Green Budget, supported by the Nuffield Foundation and in association with Citi, lays out the fiscal choices ahead:
[THREAD: 1/10]

ifs.org.uk/publications...

The outlook for the public finances in the new parliament | Institute for Fiscal Studies

We describe the fiscal outlook and set out the unenviable but important choices – which could define the parliament – confronting Rachel Reeves.

ifs.org.uk

1 4 5