Laurence O'Brien
@laurenceobrien.bsky.social
Economist at IFS | PhD student in Economics at UCL
Today the government announced more detail on how they plan to tackle the large number of small pots in the UK pension system.
The reforms are due to be announced in the upcoming Pension Schemes bill this spring.
A few thoughts on why this matters and what was announced. 👇
The reforms are due to be announced in the upcoming Pension Schemes bill this spring.
A few thoughts on why this matters and what was announced. 👇
April 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Today the government announced more detail on how they plan to tackle the large number of small pots in the UK pension system.
The reforms are due to be announced in the upcoming Pension Schemes bill this spring.
A few thoughts on why this matters and what was announced. 👇
The reforms are due to be announced in the upcoming Pension Schemes bill this spring.
A few thoughts on why this matters and what was announced. 👇
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
We've built a new IFS tool which can be used to explore what the government spends money on, and where in the UK benefits from that spending. Here it is: ifs.org.uk/calculators/.... Short thread on what you can do with the tool:
April 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
We've built a new IFS tool which can be used to explore what the government spends money on, and where in the UK benefits from that spending. Here it is: ifs.org.uk/calculators/.... Short thread on what you can do with the tool:
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
State pension age starts rising again in April 2026. Most people in their early 60s know their state pension age, but a significant minority are incorrect or unaware.
This is worrying as people may base retirement and saving decisions on incorrect information. Short thread👇
This is worrying as people may base retirement and saving decisions on incorrect information. Short thread👇
NEW: One-in-six of those with a state pension age between 66 and 67 – around 130,000 people – either underestimate or do not know when they’ll be able to claim their state pension.
@heidikarj.bsky.social's new Pensions Review briefing looks at people's state pension age awareness: [THREAD]
@heidikarj.bsky.social's new Pensions Review briefing looks at people's state pension age awareness: [THREAD]
April 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM
State pension age starts rising again in April 2026. Most people in their early 60s know their state pension age, but a significant minority are incorrect or unaware.
This is worrying as people may base retirement and saving decisions on incorrect information. Short thread👇
This is worrying as people may base retirement and saving decisions on incorrect information. Short thread👇
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
New report out today with colleagues @theifs.bsky.social and funded by @jrf-uk.bsky.social and @healthfoundation.bsky.social.
We look at what we know about the role of changing health and reported disability in the 38% rise in people claiming disability benefits since the pandemic. A 🧵 [1/10]
We look at what we know about the role of changing health and reported disability in the 38% rise in people claiming disability benefits since the pandemic. A 🧵 [1/10]
March 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
New report out today with colleagues @theifs.bsky.social and funded by @jrf-uk.bsky.social and @healthfoundation.bsky.social.
We look at what we know about the role of changing health and reported disability in the 38% rise in people claiming disability benefits since the pandemic. A 🧵 [1/10]
We look at what we know about the role of changing health and reported disability in the 38% rise in people claiming disability benefits since the pandemic. A 🧵 [1/10]
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
NEW: Ending the small pots epidemic
@laurenceobrien.bsky.social writes about why the proliferation of small deferred pension pots is burdensome, and the policy options, for Pensions Age:
@laurenceobrien.bsky.social writes about why the proliferation of small deferred pension pots is burdensome, and the policy options, for Pensions Age:
Guest comment: Ending the small pots epidemic
IFS research economist and report author, Laurence O’Brien, takes a closer look at recent research on the small pots epidemic, arguing that it is
buff.ly
February 19, 2025 at 9:32 AM
NEW: Ending the small pots epidemic
@laurenceobrien.bsky.social writes about why the proliferation of small deferred pension pots is burdensome, and the policy options, for Pensions Age:
@laurenceobrien.bsky.social writes about why the proliferation of small deferred pension pots is burdensome, and the policy options, for Pensions Age:
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
NEW: Median public sector pay is up by 5% in Scotland since 2019, in contrast to no UK-wide increase.
Jonathan Cribb, Magdalena Domínguez and @laurenceobrien.bsky.social's new Scottish Budget report analyses Scottish public sector employment and pay, and the policy implications:
[THREAD: 1/7]
Jonathan Cribb, Magdalena Domínguez and @laurenceobrien.bsky.social's new Scottish Budget report analyses Scottish public sector employment and pay, and the policy implications:
[THREAD: 1/7]
February 18, 2025 at 7:27 AM
NEW: Median public sector pay is up by 5% in Scotland since 2019, in contrast to no UK-wide increase.
Jonathan Cribb, Magdalena Domínguez and @laurenceobrien.bsky.social's new Scottish Budget report analyses Scottish public sector employment and pay, and the policy implications:
[THREAD: 1/7]
Jonathan Cribb, Magdalena Domínguez and @laurenceobrien.bsky.social's new Scottish Budget report analyses Scottish public sector employment and pay, and the policy implications:
[THREAD: 1/7]
There are over 12 million DC pension pots worth <£1k. This creates complexity for savers and increases costs for providers.
The government should help savers out by ensuring that their deferred small pension pots are consolidated together automatically. See 👇 for more details
The government should help savers out by ensuring that their deferred small pension pots are consolidated together automatically. See 👇 for more details
NEW: Without policy action, many workers will have their savings scattered across several small pension pots from different jobs.
Our new Pensions Review report, funded by @financialfairness.bsky.social, looks at why this causes problems and policy options:
[THREAD: 1/8]
Our new Pensions Review report, funded by @financialfairness.bsky.social, looks at why this causes problems and policy options:
[THREAD: 1/8]
February 12, 2025 at 5:37 PM
There are over 12 million DC pension pots worth <£1k. This creates complexity for savers and increases costs for providers.
The government should help savers out by ensuring that their deferred small pension pots are consolidated together automatically. See 👇 for more details
The government should help savers out by ensuring that their deferred small pension pots are consolidated together automatically. See 👇 for more details
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
A proper piece of work, this. Some great analysis of how households responded to the energy price shock and how effective government policy was at shielding them.
The implications for HM Treasury are pretty clear: build a better database! It could save you billions!
ifs.org.uk/publications...
The implications for HM Treasury are pretty clear: build a better database! It could save you billions!
ifs.org.uk/publications...
January 31, 2025 at 8:46 AM
A proper piece of work, this. Some great analysis of how households responded to the energy price shock and how effective government policy was at shielding them.
The implications for HM Treasury are pretty clear: build a better database! It could save you billions!
ifs.org.uk/publications...
The implications for HM Treasury are pretty clear: build a better database! It could save you billions!
ifs.org.uk/publications...
New @theifs.bsky.social research out today! We show that Pakistani and Bangladeshi employees are almost twice as likely to opt out of their workplace pension as other employees.
This can have big implications for retirement incomes and evidence points to Islamic religious beliefs as a key driver.
This can have big implications for retirement incomes and evidence points to Islamic religious beliefs as a key driver.
NEW: Employees of Pakistani or Bangladeshi ethnic origin are almost twice as likely to opt out of workplace pensions as other employees.
THREAD on Jonathan Cribb, @laurenceobrien.bsky.social and @david-sturrock.bsky.social’s new report on gaps in pension participation between ethnic groups.
[1/9]
THREAD on Jonathan Cribb, @laurenceobrien.bsky.social and @david-sturrock.bsky.social’s new report on gaps in pension participation between ethnic groups.
[1/9]
January 23, 2025 at 3:27 PM
New @theifs.bsky.social research out today! We show that Pakistani and Bangladeshi employees are almost twice as likely to opt out of their workplace pension as other employees.
This can have big implications for retirement incomes and evidence points to Islamic religious beliefs as a key driver.
This can have big implications for retirement incomes and evidence points to Islamic religious beliefs as a key driver.
Reposted by Laurence O'Brien
EVENT: Ethnicity gaps in pension participation
Thurs 23 Jan 2025 | 2pm – 3pm | Online
We present new findings on ethnic gaps in pension participation rates, with Taha Choukhmane, Athina Vlachantoni, @laurenceobrien.bsky.social and Carl Emmerson.
Sign up here: ifs.org.uk/events/ethni...
Thurs 23 Jan 2025 | 2pm – 3pm | Online
We present new findings on ethnic gaps in pension participation rates, with Taha Choukhmane, Athina Vlachantoni, @laurenceobrien.bsky.social and Carl Emmerson.
Sign up here: ifs.org.uk/events/ethni...
Ethnicity gaps in pension participation | Institute for Fiscal Studies
IFS researchers will present new findings exploring ethnic gaps in pension participation rates following the rollout of automatic enrollment.
ifs.org.uk
January 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
EVENT: Ethnicity gaps in pension participation
Thurs 23 Jan 2025 | 2pm – 3pm | Online
We present new findings on ethnic gaps in pension participation rates, with Taha Choukhmane, Athina Vlachantoni, @laurenceobrien.bsky.social and Carl Emmerson.
Sign up here: ifs.org.uk/events/ethni...
Thurs 23 Jan 2025 | 2pm – 3pm | Online
We present new findings on ethnic gaps in pension participation rates, with Taha Choukhmane, Athina Vlachantoni, @laurenceobrien.bsky.social and Carl Emmerson.
Sign up here: ifs.org.uk/events/ethni...
New working paper out!
Governments in many countries have raised early retirement ages (ERAs) in response to public finance pressures from ageing populations.
These policies have consistently been found to lead to increased employment rates among older workers.
This paper asks: why? 🤔
Governments in many countries have raised early retirement ages (ERAs) in response to public finance pressures from ageing populations.
These policies have consistently been found to lead to increased employment rates among older workers.
This paper asks: why? 🤔
NEW #IFSWorkingPaper: Why does raising the early retirement age affect employment?
Courtney Coile, Jonathan Cribb, Carl Emmerson & @laurenceobrien.bsky.social study ten years of UK reforms increasing the early retirement age for women to assess why workers delay retirement: https://buff.ly/4fWo2Wy
Courtney Coile, Jonathan Cribb, Carl Emmerson & @laurenceobrien.bsky.social study ten years of UK reforms increasing the early retirement age for women to assess why workers delay retirement: https://buff.ly/4fWo2Wy
January 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
New working paper out!
Governments in many countries have raised early retirement ages (ERAs) in response to public finance pressures from ageing populations.
These policies have consistently been found to lead to increased employment rates among older workers.
This paper asks: why? 🤔
Governments in many countries have raised early retirement ages (ERAs) in response to public finance pressures from ageing populations.
These policies have consistently been found to lead to increased employment rates among older workers.
This paper asks: why? 🤔