In new @theifs.bsky.social work, we examine the fiscal challenge of the UK's commitment to higher defence spending. If met, for the first time in a long time health and defence spending would likely rise simultaneously (as a % of GDP). This would change the shape and/or size of the state.
September 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
In new @theifs.bsky.social work, we examine the fiscal challenge of the UK's commitment to higher defence spending. If met, for the first time in a long time health and defence spending would likely rise simultaneously (as a % of GDP). This would change the shape and/or size of the state.
4️⃣: you can break down total spending, or a category of spending, into its components, either UK-wide or in a certain region/nation (as well as splitting by 'current' or 'capital' spend)
e.g. here's how benefits, state pension, and social service spending looked overall in 2023-24:
e.g. here's how benefits, state pension, and social service spending looked overall in 2023-24:
April 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
4️⃣: you can break down total spending, or a category of spending, into its components, either UK-wide or in a certain region/nation (as well as splitting by 'current' or 'capital' spend)
e.g. here's how benefits, state pension, and social service spending looked overall in 2023-24:
e.g. here's how benefits, state pension, and social service spending looked overall in 2023-24:
3️⃣: you can look at how spending on different things, or in different areas, has changed over time. You can 'index' to different years.
e.g. here's how real-terms per-person spending on health, education, and benefits, pensions, and social services looks compared to 2009-10:
e.g. here's how real-terms per-person spending on health, education, and benefits, pensions, and social services looks compared to 2009-10:
April 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
3️⃣: you can look at how spending on different things, or in different areas, has changed over time. You can 'index' to different years.
e.g. here's how real-terms per-person spending on health, education, and benefits, pensions, and social services looks compared to 2009-10:
e.g. here's how real-terms per-person spending on health, education, and benefits, pensions, and social services looks compared to 2009-10:
2️⃣: you can compare levels of spending on different things between two regions or nations of the UK.
e.g. here's how London compares to the England-wide average in per-person spending on different types of benefits, state pension, and social services:
e.g. here's how London compares to the England-wide average in per-person spending on different types of benefits, state pension, and social services:
April 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
2️⃣: you can compare levels of spending on different things between two regions or nations of the UK.
e.g. here's how London compares to the England-wide average in per-person spending on different types of benefits, state pension, and social services:
e.g. here's how London compares to the England-wide average in per-person spending on different types of benefits, state pension, and social services:
1️⃣: you can see the distribution of (relatively granular) types of spending across the UK. You can compare this spending to different denominators – to the population, regional GDP, etc.
e.g. here are sickness & disability benefits as a share of each region's GDP:
e.g. here are sickness & disability benefits as a share of each region's GDP:
April 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
1️⃣: you can see the distribution of (relatively granular) types of spending across the UK. You can compare this spending to different denominators – to the population, regional GDP, etc.
e.g. here are sickness & disability benefits as a share of each region's GDP:
e.g. here are sickness & disability benefits as a share of each region's GDP: