What are the big threats to public finances? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 24, 2025 · 48 MIN

What are the big threats to public finances?

from IFS Zooms In: The Economy

Is the UK heading for a fiscal crisis? Or can policymakers still steer the public finances back to a sustainable path?The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report warns that, without action, UK government debt could climb above 270% of GDP by the 2070s - driven by rising borrowing, an ageing population, and the fiscal impacts of climate change.In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Helen Miller (Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies) is joined by Richard Hughes (Chair, OBR) and Ben Zaranko (Associate Director, IFS) to explore the forces shaping the long-term outlook for the public finances, the 50 risks highlighted by the OBR, and what can be done now to avoid a crisis later.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the UK heading for a fiscal crisis? Or can policymakers still steer the public finances back to a sustainable path?The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report warns that, without action, UK government debt could climb above 270% of GDP by the 2070s - driven by rising borrowing, an ageing population, and the fiscal impacts of climate change.In this episode of IFS Zooms In, Helen Miller (Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies) is joined by Richard Hughes (Chair, OBR) and Ben Zaranko (Associate Director, IFS) to explore the forces shaping the long-term outlook for the public finances, the 50 risks highlighted by the OBR, and what can be done now to avoid a crisis later.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NOW PLAYING

What are the big threats to public finances?

0:00 48:58

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of IFS Zooms In: The Economy?

This episode is 48 minutes long.

When was this IFS Zooms In: The Economy episode published?

This episode was published on July 24, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Is the UK heading for a fiscal crisis? Or can policymakers still steer the public finances back to a sustainable path?The Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report warns that, without action, UK government debt...

Can I download this IFS Zooms In: The Economy episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!