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Mike Brewer

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H-index: 36
Economics 26%
Political science 22%
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

resfoundation.bsky.social
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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by Mike Brewer

mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
...while also diminishing the importance of the remaining contributory benefits?
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer, Anand Menon, Tim Leunig

resfoundation.bsky.social
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: Mike Brewer, Jonathan Portes

nyecominetti.bsky.social
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: Mike Brewer, Jonathan Portes, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 8 more

tom-clark.bsky.social
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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by Mike Brewer

mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
You now own two inflatable kayaks and a set of garden furniture.
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

jamessmithrf.bsky.social
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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by Mike Brewer

mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/mrjo...
mrjohncrace.bsky.social
John Crace @mrjohncrace.bsky.social · 28d
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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by Mike Brewer — Reposted by: Stephen P. Jenkins

mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
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

mrjohncrace.bsky.social
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

resfoundation.bsky.social
🚨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

resfoundation.bsky.social
🚨 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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by Anand Menon — Reposted by: Mike Brewer, Jonathan Portes, Melanie Simms , and 2 more

anandmenon.bsky.social
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.bsky.social
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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by Mike Brewer

mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
I had such a good time going to Orkney one summer. 18 degrees was a hot day.
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

mollybroome.bsky.social
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

hern.bsky.social
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
jackkessler.bsky.social
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

resfoundation.bsky.social
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

louisemurphy.bsky.social
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

ruthcurtice.bsky.social
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

handle.invalid
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.politics.co.uk
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

resfoundation.bsky.social
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
Top of the Charts logo
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

alexclegg.bsky.social
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

ruthcurtice.bsky.social
And we're off. Rachel Reeves stands up to deliver the spending review....
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

resfoundation.bsky.social
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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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

ruthpatrick0.bsky.social
Chancellor said 'That policy {free school meals expansion] alone will lift 100,000 children out of poverty… Children in schools…from Tower Hamlets to Sunderland to Swansea to Bridge End.

But Sunderland's children are the only ones who will benefit - all other places already have universal FSM
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer

resfoundation.bsky.social
How are the cost of essentials affecting low-to-middle-income families across Britain?

On Monday, join our discussion with @claremoriarty.bsky.social @peterlevell.bsky.social and @lalithatry.bsky.social chaired by @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social

Sign up here ➡️ buff.ly/3NYLh0r
Graphic for event 'The price is tight' How are the cots of essentials affecting low to middle income families? The event is on Monday 30th June at 10am
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Reposted by: Mike Brewer, Stephen P. Jenkins, Robert Inklaar , and 2 more

Hurrah: write-up of my Ruggles Lecture (with @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social and @nyecominetti.bsky.social) now out in Review of Income and Wealth, Open Access at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/....
ICYMI: our companion report at www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
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by Ruth Patrick — Reposted by: Mike Brewer, Ruth Patrick

ruthpatrick0.bsky.social
Some heatwave weekend reading on why devolution needs to be talked about more in connection with the disability social security cuts.

@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Labour’s social security reforms ignore devolution - British Politics and Policy at LSE
The Goverment's social security reforms ignore the fact that they will have different consequences depending on which part of the UK one lives in.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
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