The most 'optimal' solution (re. govt objectives) targets providers who are abusing the system or providing low-quality degrees (though this is a contested term) while putting minimal pressure on excellent institutions. The announcement today may be okay in that regard but hard to tell right now.

But anything effecting rev. from int. students (either bc demand for places drops or bc HE providers absorb costs if govt makes them collect the levy) impacts spending on home students too.

It's a tradeoff between immig goals and wishes of (economically valuable) HE sector, so not without costs.

Nice to see our work referenced in this article from the Times today, making use of our invaluable Ministers Reflect archive.
www.thetimes.com/business/eco...

Plug for the paper here and for all our ten years’ worth of Ministers Reflect interviews, available on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk website i.e. 150+ other interviews with formers UK and devolved government ministers.
tinyurl.com/38anhkc7

Finally, with Rachel Reeves' own budget looming this Thursday, some sage words from Alistair Darling, who likewise had to sail the government ship through tricky waters during the financial crisis, on the opportunity that a budget can represent. 8/9

We have some (probably unhelpful) words from Reeves' predecessor in the role, Jeremy Hunt, on what government's *don't* achieve through fiscal gameplaying. 7/9

Ed Balls, who held many roles in the Treasury, as a key Labour spad then as EST from 2006 to 2007, offers advice as a true insider on how best to engage with the department. 6/9

Caroline Spelman’s experience chimes with that of many ministers outside of the Treasury, finding it to be a block on the delivery of her priorities as a secretary of state. 5/9

It's not all rosy though, Jack Straw provided perspective on the Treasury from the outside. He nodded to the brinkmanship and gameplaying that often occurs during negotiations between the Treasury and other departments. 4/9

Likewise, Liam Byrne spoke about the special 'energy' that the Treasury has at the centre of government. 3/9

We've spoken with chancellors, Treasury ministers and others from elsewhere across government.
Ken Clarke remembers the wide-ranging powers of the chancellor. 2/9

Thank you to colleagues at the Jameel Institute @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social and @lshtm.bsky.social for their support on this work, making the case for investment in this type of modelling in advance of the next pandemic. 6/6

Govt needs to 1️⃣establish a network of external epi-econ researchers 2️⃣strengthen X-govt governance for pandemics 3️⃣develop at least one in-house model 4️⃣create dedicated research funding streams for pandemics 5️⃣create formal structures ahead of time for epi-econ evidence synthesis at the top of govt. 5/