Vinal
@vkkarania.bsky.social
Social Policy Researcher, Public Policy Economist, Evaluator
(1/3) The discussion around Value Added Tax (VAT) in the UK is disappointing. Government and opposition figures focus on the rate when it is the coverage that is the problem.
September 29, 2025 at 9:13 AM
(1/3) The discussion around Value Added Tax (VAT) in the UK is disappointing. Government and opposition figures focus on the rate when it is the coverage that is the problem.
“A better run government is a cheaper government.”
Insightful piece by @andrewgreenway.bsky.social setting out why assuming a cheaper government is a better run government is the wrong way round.
news.uk.cityam.com/story/234468...
Insightful piece by @andrewgreenway.bsky.social setting out why assuming a cheaper government is a better run government is the wrong way round.
news.uk.cityam.com/story/234468...
“Britain doesn’t need government efficiency, it needs excellence”
Elon Musk’s Doge assumed that cheaper government was better government. that’s the wrong way round: a better run government is a cheaper government, says Andrew Greenway Democracies around the world a...
news.uk.cityam.com
July 2, 2025 at 9:37 AM
“A better run government is a cheaper government.”
Insightful piece by @andrewgreenway.bsky.social setting out why assuming a cheaper government is a better run government is the wrong way round.
news.uk.cityam.com/story/234468...
Insightful piece by @andrewgreenway.bsky.social setting out why assuming a cheaper government is a better run government is the wrong way round.
news.uk.cityam.com/story/234468...
Reposted by Vinal
I called it 'unlikely' that a 2031 census would go ahead - oh how I'm eating my words now, and with relish.
An unscheduled post from me on the announcement this week that we (most likely) will be having another census.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
An unscheduled post from me on the announcement this week that we (most likely) will be having another census.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
The 2031 UK census is happening after all
Endorsement by statistics agencies is a row-back from previous position
open.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I called it 'unlikely' that a 2031 census would go ahead - oh how I'm eating my words now, and with relish.
An unscheduled post from me on the announcement this week that we (most likely) will be having another census.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
An unscheduled post from me on the announcement this week that we (most likely) will be having another census.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Insightful thread on inflation, including why people continue to feel the cost of living crisis.
🧵Some thoughts re inflation.
Not the data today, but two deep issues we should prob spend more time thinking about.
1. While economists and policymakers may have convinced themselves that the cost of living squeeze is over, for millions of households, it doesn't feel that way.
Not the data today, but two deep issues we should prob spend more time thinking about.
1. While economists and policymakers may have convinced themselves that the cost of living squeeze is over, for millions of households, it doesn't feel that way.
June 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Insightful thread on inflation, including why people continue to feel the cost of living crisis.
There are stories that Rachel Reeves is thinking of amending non-dom tax changes to halt exodus and yet this feels a little late, because it creates a sense of uncertainty, and the governments’ policies to date appear opposite to her message of wanting growth.
www.thetimes.com/article/0d09...
www.thetimes.com/article/0d09...
Rachel Reeves reconsiders non-dom tax changes to halt exodus
The chancellor could water down one of Labour’s flagship policies after reports that the wealthy are leaving the country in greater numbers than predicted
www.thetimes.com
June 18, 2025 at 7:03 AM
There are stories that Rachel Reeves is thinking of amending non-dom tax changes to halt exodus and yet this feels a little late, because it creates a sense of uncertainty, and the governments’ policies to date appear opposite to her message of wanting growth.
www.thetimes.com/article/0d09...
www.thetimes.com/article/0d09...
Reposted by Vinal
We're #hiring! 📣 NIESR are looking for a Senior Economist to join the Macroeconomic Modelling and Forecasting team 📊
Applications close on Friday 27 June. Find out more about the role and how to #apply below ⬇️✍️
niesr.ac.uk/vacancy/seni...
Applications close on Friday 27 June. Find out more about the role and how to #apply below ⬇️✍️
niesr.ac.uk/vacancy/seni...
Senior Economist - NIESR
NIESR are seeking a Senior Economist to join the Macroeconomic Modelling and Forecasting team.
niesr.ac.uk
June 17, 2025 at 1:45 PM
We're #hiring! 📣 NIESR are looking for a Senior Economist to join the Macroeconomic Modelling and Forecasting team 📊
Applications close on Friday 27 June. Find out more about the role and how to #apply below ⬇️✍️
niesr.ac.uk/vacancy/seni...
Applications close on Friday 27 June. Find out more about the role and how to #apply below ⬇️✍️
niesr.ac.uk/vacancy/seni...
Reposted by Vinal
The benefits of having only one OBR forecast a year increasingly outweigh the costs www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/imf-...
The benefits of having only one OBR forecast a year increasingly outweigh the costs | Institute for Government
The IMF has welcomed recent changes to the UK’s fiscal framework.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
June 3, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The benefits of having only one OBR forecast a year increasingly outweigh the costs www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/imf-...
Reposted by Vinal
This from Ed Balls is spot-on and if Reeves has any sense is where she will end up. If you are going to retreat you do it with a below not a whimper
May 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This from Ed Balls is spot-on and if Reeves has any sense is where she will end up. If you are going to retreat you do it with a below not a whimper
India-UK trade deal makes one ask why does the UK still have a National Insurance tax? As @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk writes
“It makes little sense to have different taxes for different types of income, kicking in at different thresholds and affecting people differently.”
www.cityam.com/dont-exempt-...
“It makes little sense to have different taxes for different types of income, kicking in at different thresholds and affecting people differently.”
www.cityam.com/dont-exempt-...
Don't exempt Indian workers from NI, abolish it altogether
The row over Indian visas is really a sign of how misleading and poorly-understood the tax system is
www.cityam.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:06 AM
India-UK trade deal makes one ask why does the UK still have a National Insurance tax? As @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk writes
“It makes little sense to have different taxes for different types of income, kicking in at different thresholds and affecting people differently.”
www.cityam.com/dont-exempt-...
“It makes little sense to have different taxes for different types of income, kicking in at different thresholds and affecting people differently.”
www.cityam.com/dont-exempt-...
Reposted by Vinal
DWP is using a sleight of hand in its disability benefit cuts impact assessment: Actual increase in poverty is closer to 400,000, not the 250,000 in the impact assessment.
Quick thread explaining why. 🧵1/7
Quick thread explaining why. 🧵1/7
March 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
DWP is using a sleight of hand in its disability benefit cuts impact assessment: Actual increase in poverty is closer to 400,000, not the 250,000 in the impact assessment.
Quick thread explaining why. 🧵1/7
Quick thread explaining why. 🧵1/7
Reposted by Vinal
We are delighted to announce that @helenmiller.bsky.social has been appointed as the next IFS Director, following on from @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social in July 2025.
Find out more:
Find out more:
Helen Miller appointed as new Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies | Institute for Fiscal Studies
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is delighted to announce that Helen Miller has been appointed as its next Director.
ifs.org.uk
March 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
We are delighted to announce that @helenmiller.bsky.social has been appointed as the next IFS Director, following on from @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social in July 2025.
Find out more:
Find out more:
Reposted by Vinal
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 7:31 AM
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]
Why would you not help schools who are in demand to expand (if they wish) so more children can benefit?
www.thetimes.com/article/7c93...
www.thetimes.com/article/7c93...
More families will miss out on first choice school under reforms
A government assessment found the ability of popular schools to expand will be restricted. But ministers say their changes will save other local schools
www.thetimes.com
February 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Why would you not help schools who are in demand to expand (if they wish) so more children can benefit?
www.thetimes.com/article/7c93...
www.thetimes.com/article/7c93...
Reposted by Vinal
NEW: The government's £35bn energy support packages in 2022–23 significantly alleviated household losses, but were poorly targeted and encouraged energy overuse.
@peterlevell.bsky.social, Martin O'Connell and Kate Smith's paper finds that a better design could have saved £4.5bn:
@peterlevell.bsky.social, Martin O'Connell and Kate Smith's paper finds that a better design could have saved £4.5bn:
January 31, 2025 at 7:29 AM
NEW: The government's £35bn energy support packages in 2022–23 significantly alleviated household losses, but were poorly targeted and encouraged energy overuse.
@peterlevell.bsky.social, Martin O'Connell and Kate Smith's paper finds that a better design could have saved £4.5bn:
@peterlevell.bsky.social, Martin O'Connell and Kate Smith's paper finds that a better design could have saved £4.5bn:
Reposted by Vinal
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...
Reposted by Vinal
@brisunipress.bsky.social have curated a collection of taster chapters from Creative Research Methods books that are open access.
Take a look at the list of Titles here:
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/subject/CRM-...
#CreativeResearchMethods #OpenAccess #SocialResearch
Take a look at the list of Titles here:
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/subject/CRM-...
#CreativeResearchMethods #OpenAccess #SocialResearch
Creative Research Methods Collection
Creative Research Methods Collection
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com
January 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
@brisunipress.bsky.social have curated a collection of taster chapters from Creative Research Methods books that are open access.
Take a look at the list of Titles here:
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/subject/CRM-...
#CreativeResearchMethods #OpenAccess #SocialResearch
Take a look at the list of Titles here:
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/subject/CRM-...
#CreativeResearchMethods #OpenAccess #SocialResearch
Reposted by Vinal
Is this Liz Truss 2.0? Why rising bond yields are rattling Rachel Reeves: very good explainer by @rjpartington.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Why rising bond yields are rattling Rachel Reeves
Chancellor in danger of breaking fiscal rules after cost of servicing UK 10-year debt rises to highest level since 2008
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Is this Liz Truss 2.0? Why rising bond yields are rattling Rachel Reeves: very good explainer by @rjpartington.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Vinal
Important point, this. We would, in an ideal world, be able to consider the full distributional impacts of both a tax change and the associated change in public spending when analysing policy. The trouble is that modelling the distributional impact of public service spending is painfully difficult.
January 9, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Important point, this. We would, in an ideal world, be able to consider the full distributional impacts of both a tax change and the associated change in public spending when analysing policy. The trouble is that modelling the distributional impact of public service spending is painfully difficult.
Further evidence suggesting “…not only is education a key determinant of the current prosperity of a particular town or city, but it is transferred across the generations and the effect persists.”
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229570...
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229570...
“Lessons from the Gulag? Enemies of the people had entrepreneurial spirit”
A study mapping the link between gulags and regional growth in Russia can teach us something about reviving our own left behind towns.
news.uk.cityam.com
January 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Further evidence suggesting “…not only is education a key determinant of the current prosperity of a particular town or city, but it is transferred across the generations and the effect persists.”
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229570...
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229570...
This is not a surprise and reflects a failure in the policy making process.
If consideration was given to what the purpose of policy was - for whom would have been clear - rules could have been set to avoid such use of funds.
Solution exists if gov wants to fix.
www.thetimes.com/article/cdb4...
If consideration was given to what the purpose of policy was - for whom would have been clear - rules could have been set to avoid such use of funds.
Solution exists if gov wants to fix.
www.thetimes.com/article/cdb4...
Apprenticeship funding exploited to train seniors, say experts
While already skilled and highly paid executives are receiving further training, the number of younger workers starting entry-level apprenticeships has plummeted
www.thetimes.com
January 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This is not a surprise and reflects a failure in the policy making process.
If consideration was given to what the purpose of policy was - for whom would have been clear - rules could have been set to avoid such use of funds.
Solution exists if gov wants to fix.
www.thetimes.com/article/cdb4...
If consideration was given to what the purpose of policy was - for whom would have been clear - rules could have been set to avoid such use of funds.
Solution exists if gov wants to fix.
www.thetimes.com/article/cdb4...
Reposted by Vinal
What City Hall doesn’t want you to read. (And how I got hold of it.) www.londoncentric.media/p/the-docume...
The document City Hall doesn't want you to read
Plus: An exclusive story about what's going on at the mega club venue Drumsheds, and a flat in Kate Bush's old house.
www.londoncentric.media
December 20, 2024 at 7:43 AM
What City Hall doesn’t want you to read. (And how I got hold of it.) www.londoncentric.media/p/the-docume...
Enjoyable listen from the @theifs.bsky.social - a discussion in which speakers agreed & disagreed with each other on the topic of housing taxation.
It opened my eyes to arguments I had not previously considered!
ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
It opened my eyes to arguments I had not previously considered!
ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
How is tax damaging the housing market? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
We discuss how taxes like capital gains, stamp duty, and council tax impact the housing market, affecting affordability, renting, and homeownership.
ifs.org.uk
December 20, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Enjoyable listen from the @theifs.bsky.social - a discussion in which speakers agreed & disagreed with each other on the topic of housing taxation.
It opened my eyes to arguments I had not previously considered!
ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
It opened my eyes to arguments I had not previously considered!
ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
Reposted by Vinal
'There are about 300 Bechstein’s bats in the colony. Even if we assume they will all have fatal collisions with HS2, and that the tunnel saves all of them, we are still spending £330,000+ per bat.' Samuel Hughes on the British state's antipathy to trade-offs www.cityam.com/does-britain...
Does Britain care more about bats than people?
For the £100m the government spent on a 'bat tunnel' for HS2 we could have stopped 76 children dying of malaria. The affair illustrates the state's total inability to consider trade-offs
www.cityam.com
December 19, 2024 at 9:26 AM
'There are about 300 Bechstein’s bats in the colony. Even if we assume they will all have fatal collisions with HS2, and that the tunnel saves all of them, we are still spending £330,000+ per bat.' Samuel Hughes on the British state's antipathy to trade-offs www.cityam.com/does-britain...
“…the main point of setting a target is to guide decisions of everyone working beneath you…raising living standards over five years leads to different decisions than one of becoming the fastest growing economy in the G7”
www.thetimes.com/article/2123...
www.thetimes.com/article/2123...
Making us more comfortable isn’t enough, Keir
Government has shelved its growth goal in favour of raising living standards but this is an alarmingly short-termist move
www.thetimes.com
December 18, 2024 at 8:25 AM
“…the main point of setting a target is to guide decisions of everyone working beneath you…raising living standards over five years leads to different decisions than one of becoming the fastest growing economy in the G7”
www.thetimes.com/article/2123...
www.thetimes.com/article/2123...
“London might not be an obvious answer, but it ticks all the boxes”
Never really thought of London as one of the places to build a new town…
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229226...
Never really thought of London as one of the places to build a new town…
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229226...
“Build a new town in London”
The government has committed to building new towns with at least 10,000 homes but where should they go? London is the obvious place, says Jonathan Seager If you were asked to picture a new town in Eng...
news.uk.cityam.com
December 18, 2024 at 7:24 AM
“London might not be an obvious answer, but it ticks all the boxes”
Never really thought of London as one of the places to build a new town…
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229226...
Never really thought of London as one of the places to build a new town…
news.uk.cityam.com/story/229226...