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Christine Farquharson

@ckfarquharson.bsky.social
425 followers 211 following 57 posts

Economist @theifs.bsky.social. Research on early years, education and health.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Are you looking to understand what the PM's big social care announcement could mean - or what even has been announced? Look no further than the brilliant explainer my colleagues @theifs.bsky.social have pulled together: ifs.org.uk/articles/how... @heidikarj.bsky.social @helenmiller.bsky.social
ifs.org.uk
How will the new triple lock work and what effects will it have? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a major and welcome change to the triple lock, which will come into effect in 2030–31.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Pro tip: study economics 😉 Not just because it's a conduit to working @theifs.bsky.social - economics and medicine grads enjoy the biggest average boost to their lifetime earnings vs. students with similar school grades who didn't go to university.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I really enjoyed recording an @theifs.bsky.social Zooms In episode on the second pensions commission with Jonathan Cribb and @heidikarj.bsky.social - these two are expert guides! A great reminder that we need to think about the whole lifecycle, not “just” making retirement more comfortable.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Technical education from 14: the issues to solve are clear - high NEETs, mismatch of training & jobs. Vocational education is a plausible place to look for solutions. But employers are hard to engage. And this adds to near-constant churn, which makes vocational education even harder to navigate.
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
‘When we have a big shock, a big external shock like energy prices going up, we simply become poorer as a nation’ 🎙️ IFS Associate Director, Tom Waters, on why growth is the only real route to improving living standards.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
New PM - but many familiar challenges. Tight public finances and tough decisions on tax/spend. Plus reviews reporting soon on benefits, NEETs and social care. Very glad to have @maxwarner.bsky.social and Tom Waters to talk it through on @theifs.bsky.social Zooms In!
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Great fun to join @theifs.bsky.social Zooms In to talk all things devolution - what is it What options are there? Where are there barriers? And most importantly, could it boost growth? A great primer from two top experts, on a topic we may all be hearing lots more about...
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
📉 #IFSSatStat: By 2027, experienced teachers' pay is likely to be around 7% lower in real terms than in 2010, even after recent and planned increases. Teacher starting salaries have recovered to their 2010 level, but pay for more experienced teachers remains lower in real terms.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Delighted that @theifs.bsky.social is part of a major new research centre on the economics of education, with @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social and @cep-lse.bsky.social. Summarising existing evidence, generating new research, methodological development, capacity building - and more! ifs.org.uk/news/ifs-par...
ifs.org.uk
IFS part of major new Economics of Education Research Centre to strengthen evidence-based policymaking | Institute for Fiscal Studies
The centre will bring together education economists in academia and in government, to bring the best evidence to bear
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Kate Ogden is the go-to person to unpick the complicated, contrasting and controversial proposals circulating around student loans. Essential reading from @theifs.bsky.social for anyone who wants to understand the - very different! - directions of travel being proposed. ifs.org.uk/publications...
ifs.org.uk
Options for changing Plan 2 student loans: costs, benefits, and distributional effects | Institute for Fiscal Studies
Which graduates would repay less under different reforms to Plan 2 student loans, and when? And how much might these proposals cost taxpayers?
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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
The Conservatives have today said they would scrap the real interest rate charged on Plan 2 student loans saving graduates "tens of thousands of pounds". But *which* graduates would financially benefit?... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 1/5
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UCL Centre for Education Policy & Equalising Opportunities @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
We're delighted to have @ckfarquharson.bsky.social giving the @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social seminar next week! She'll be talking about her work estimating the impact of Sure Start on education, health and more. 🕕3-4pm Thurs 5th Feb 📍Online or in-person (541, 20 Bedford Way) Sign up: tinyurl.com/yanfx8j7
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Absolutely delighted our research has won the ONS' Research Excellence prize for impact! I always say to people that the ideal @theifs.bsky.social work is rigorous enough to publish in top journals, and relevant enough to be on the front page. I think we've ticked that box here!
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
The OBR has done us all a service by producing new forecasts of the challenge on SEND. What's still missing is the plan for how to tackle it - reform? changes to education spending? budget top-ups? Risks too to councils' finances - and their incentives. Big questions remain!
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
NEW: The hardest questions for SEND are still to be answered. @ckfarquharson.bsky.social, Kate Ogden, David Phillips, @lukesibieta.bsky.social and Darcey Snape’s briefing explains how the #Budget2025 will affect SEND spending and the options for councils' SEND-related deficits ⬇️
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Continue to be astonished by how quickly my colleagues can turn these podcasts around… we only finished recording at 2pm! Listen in for our take on the Budget, and our attempt to string together coherent sentences on little sleep…
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
NEW PODCAST: The Autumn Budget 2025 explained @helenmiller.bsky.social, @benzaranko.bsky.social and @ckfarquharson.bsky.social break down the major decisions in a packed Autumn Budget and what they mean for the UK in our new IFS Zooms In episode. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/aut...
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Good news: We now have a forecast for SEND spending, rather than flying blind. From 2028, central gov't will fund all SEND provision from within departmental spending. Without reform or spending top-ups, that's a £6bn pressure on budgets that year. @theifs.bsky.social #Budget2025
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
“This was a big Budget, but not in the way people were necessarily expecting.” – @helenmiller.bsky.social 📗 Our immediate IFS response to #Budget2025 is out now: ifs.org.uk/articles/aut...
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
...if we add up the cost of all the council worker hours wasted on failed applications for the "Treasury Happy Press Release Fund" type gimmicks, I suspect more often than not the net benefit to the country overall will be minimal or negative
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
If there were an election tomorrow, more net tax increases would have been announced in this parliament than in any other since at least 1970. #Budget2025
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Ben Zaranko @benzaranko.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Your regular reminder that, while it doesn't have every policy option under the sun, @theifs.bsky.social Be the Chancellor tool will tell you how much could be raised from a whole raft of policy changes (e.g. cutting higher-rate threshold by £10k raises ~£17bn). ifs.org.uk/be-chancellor
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Absolutely delighted that our @theifs.bsky.social work evaluating the effects of Sure Start centres won the "Publication of the Year" prize at last night's @smartthinking.bsky.social awards! It's wonderful to be recognised for the quality and impact of our work. ifs.org.uk/publications...
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Gabriella Conti @gabriconti.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
🎉 Proud to see our #Sure #Start @theifs.bsky.social research shortlisted for the ONS Research #Excellence Awards! 🏆 Learn more: www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/what... 🗳️ We need your help! Please cast your #vote in the People’s Choice Award by Friday 31 October 2025👉🏻 forms.office.com/pages/respon...
ons.gov.uk
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Delighted that our @theifs.bsky.social research on Sure Start has been shortlisted for the ONS Research Excellence Awards! Do check out our work (and the other amazing projects) and cast your vote in the People's Choice awards! tinyurl.com/3kra3trj
tinyurl.com
Microsoft Forms
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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Today’s Times gives “urged” the entirely new meaning of “a lukewarm mention in the middle of a 66 page report”.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Phenomenal news - the birth cohorts are one of the UK's richest and most unique data resources. I can't wait to see all the amazing evidence that we'll gain from this newest study!
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
NEW PODCAST: Are the kids ok? Family life @helenmiller.bsky.social, @ckfarquharson.bsky.social and Anne Longfield explore family life in the UK, rising child poverty and pressures on social care in our 'Are the kids ok?' podcast mini-series. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
"There's been a really big increase in the share of children who are being identified as having special educational needs" @ckfarquharson.bsky.social details the rise in special educational needs and its effect on schools. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
We recorded this episode this morning (!) and I came out full of excitement! @helenmiller.bsky.social and I had a great conversation with Sir Philip Augar - we covered the design of the post-16 system, the gulf between higher and further education, and even some tentative signs of hope. Do listen!
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
"Only way that you are going to make a significant difference in the life of a child under the age of two, is by working with parents" @ckfarquharson.bsky.social argues effective early years policy must focus on working with parents and families. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
NEW PODCAST: Are the kids ok? The school years Are England’s school children thriving, or are too many being left behind? @helenmiller.bsky.social, @ckfarquharson.bsky.social & @samfr.bsky.social assess the state of England's schools in our podcast. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...
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Gavin Kelly @gavin-kelly.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
Panoramic conversation on early years policy - what do we know & where should policy go. With the excellent @careyoppenheim.bsky.social @ckfarquharson.bsky.social & @helenmiller.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/00sX...
open.spotify.com
Are The Kids OK? The Early Years (Episode 1)
IFS Zooms In: The Economy · Episode
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Bit weird that none of these articles mention that family hubs already exist and were set up by the last government. This an expansion and bolstering of them not a completely new thing.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
In light of today's announcements on Family Hubs, this @theifs.bsky.social podcast is looking even more timely! A great discussion with @officialedballs.bsky.social and @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social on the benefits of Sure Start and the political economy of keeping early childhood programmes going.
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Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
“This new guidance will damage the quality of government and public discourse.” Important new comment from me and @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
The government should not ban public servants from speaking in public | Institute for Government
New guidance will damage the quality of government and public discourse.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Spending on the new childcare entitlements next year could be £1bn higher than initially forecast in March 2023 - a 25% increase. So what's going on? I break down the numbers that @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social and @maxwarner.bsky.social set out in @theifs.bsky.social post-Spending Review briefing.
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Ben Zaranko @benzaranko.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
One weird thing about the efficiency drive announced yesterday is that we got (1) a detailed, bottom-up piece of work from the Office for Value for Money on the scope for savings in each department (2) top-down plans for all departments to make the precise same % cut to admin budgets
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Super useful from @lukesibieta.bsky.social on school funding choices. Protecting the total core schools budget means real-terms spending per pupil will rise by around 3%. We don't know anything on colleges yet - reminder that real-terms per-pupil protection there needs an extra £300m in today's £.
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
The government has announced that, from next year, free school meals will be extended to all children whose families receive Universal Credit. Currently, families need an after-tax income below £7,400 to be eligible - removing the cap will bring 1.7m kids into eligibility in the long term.
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
IFS Associate Director @ckfarquharson.bsky.social gives evidence to @commonshealth.bsky.social tomorrow at 9:30am on the provision of early years services and our recent report on the impact of Sure Start centres. Find out more here: committees.parliament.uk/event/24353/...
committees.parliament.uk
4 June 2025 - The First 1000 Days: a renewed focus - Oral evidence - Committees - UK Parliament
09:15 - The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
What a fantastic choice for us @theifs.bsky.social! @helenmiller.bsky.social is an incredible colleague, a terrific economist and an extraordinary communicator - I can't imagine anyone better to lead this new chapter at IFS.
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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
It is National Pizza Day, so this is your periodic reminder that Hawaiian Pizza was invented by a Greek-Canadian named Sam Panopoulos at his Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario in 1962. A True Canadian Hero 🫡

This photo shows a person holding a large pizza with a variety of toppings, including what appears to be ham and pineapple, suggesting it might be a Hawaiian pizza. The individual is smiling broadly, indicating enjoyment or pride in presenting the pizza. The setting appears to be indoors, possibly in a restaurant or a dining area, as there are chairs and a table visible in the background. The pizza is held on a white plate, and the person is wearing a light-colored shirt.
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Laura McInerney @missmc.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Schools Week have devised a quiz! Higher or Lower! Can you spot which statement in the Ofsted framework is for the higher grade?! schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-quiz-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Ofsted quiz: Can you spot a ‘strong’ rating from a ‘secure’ one?
Ofsted's proposed 'toolkits' have been criticised as being too unclear - but do they make sense?
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
NEW: Childcare funding rates largely protected in real terms - with a big uplift for disadvantage premium @ckfarquharson.bsky.social and Elaine Drayton respond to yesterday's government announcement of a £2bn injection of funding into England’s early years system. ifs.org.uk/articles/chi...
ifs.org.uk
Childcare funding rates largely protected in real terms - with a big uplift for disadvantage premium | Institute for Fiscal Studies
Childcare funding rates for 2024/25 offer real-terms protection for the early years budget, with a big boost to the funding top-up for disadvantaged c
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Join us tomorrow for our Summer students IFS recruitment event Monday 2 December | 5-6pm | Online We will explain what a day as an IFS Summer Student looks like, what projects IFS researchers work on and what areas of research we cover. Register here:
buff.ly
IFS recruitment event: Summer students | Institute for Fiscal Studies
We're offer an opportunity to meet current IFS staff and find out more about our summer placement scheme for current university students.
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
One week left to apply to join IFS as a PhD Research Economist. We're looking for outstanding economists who have completed their PhD or students expecting to complete a PhD in 2025. Find out more and apply by 11:59pm Friday 22 November here: econjobmarket.org/positions/10964
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Carmen Villa @carmenvillaecon.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
🚨📜I am excited to share my Job Market Paper, where I study the effects of youth clubs on education and crime. The paper highlights the broader value of after-school activities and the potential benefits of public provision. 1/10
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Peter Levell @peterlevell.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
On the economics job market? Opportunities for PhDs to join as Research Economists in labour/crime, public finance, and education/nutrition/health at the IFS @theifs.bsky.social econjobmarket.org/positions/10... #EconSky
econjobmarket.org
EJM - Econ Job Market
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Max Warner @maxwarner.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
NEW: Is NHS hospital productivity starting to rebound? Over the last few years, @benzaranko.bsky.social and I have written and talked a lot about the NHS productivity problem. In a new @theifs.bsky.social comment (with new colleague Olly Harvey-Rich) we look at productivity over the last year. 1/12
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