Incisive commentary from the IfG’s expert team on issues facing government and key ministerial decisions.
From analysis of key political events such as budgets and party conferences to snap responses to unexpected developments such as government reshuffles, our writers set out their views and analyse what government gets right, what it gets wrong, and what it can do better.
Academy chains in a tangle
The Department for Education has five questions to answer to justify more academies.
Shrinking Whitehall
Will departmental mergers actually save money?
Behavioural economics: an insight into the future of policy making?
Ashley Hibben reflects on how behavioural economics could influence policy making in the future.
Eight ways to improve the Work Programme
Tom Gash believes it can improve.
What’s needed to make public services more responsive to local, citizen needs?
Nehal Davison explains.
Major Projects Authority Annual Report, 2015
The departmental picture.
Changing course – housing policy and planning reforms
Government reforms are likely to increase housing supply in England.
Major Projects Authority Annual Report, 2015
The picture across government.
Austerity, reform and leadership: the view from the Foreign Office
FCO Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Simon Fraser advises his successor.
Members’ exits – and entrances: select committee membership, 2010-15
We look at the 20 select committees whose job is to scrutinise specific government departments.