Mike Brewer
@mikebrewerecon.bsky.social
Deputy Chief Executive Resolution Foundation & Visiting Prof in Practice at LSE Social Policy. 'Calm, Measured, Withering' http://tinyurl.com/y6wxlxhj). 'Cool, calm analysis' (More or Less, 8/10/25). He/him
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Live posting about the speech feels slightly unnecessary when all the details are out. But I'm a sucker for tradition nonetheless.
November 26, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Live posting about the speech feels slightly unnecessary when all the details are out. But I'm a sucker for tradition nonetheless.
8 out of 11 but one was a silly mistake so I'm giving myself 8.5.
(Btw this is what Chancellors do when they get OBR forecasts 🤣)
(Btw this is what Chancellors do when they get OBR forecasts 🤣)
November 19, 2025 at 7:15 AM
8 out of 11 but one was a silly mistake so I'm giving myself 8.5.
(Btw this is what Chancellors do when they get OBR forecasts 🤣)
(Btw this is what Chancellors do when they get OBR forecasts 🤣)
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets? on.ft.com/3XAbkGa
Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets?
Test your knowledge of the set-piece political event with our questions on the financial statements of yesteryear
on.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets? on.ft.com/3XAbkGa
Reposted by Mike Brewer
It really is worth taking the time to hear from people like “Mary,” who fled from Zimbabwe 20 years ago, to understand what life is like when the law denies you the chance to call the country where you’ve made your life home
In 2023 @tom-clark.bsky.social got me to write a chapter for his book on UK poverty about how immigration limbo, which Labour wants more of, makes people destitute. It was the most distressing piece I've ever worked on. We sent a copy to every MP. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/6081...
Destitute by design: trapped in the immigration system
Migration policy is not only failing people forced to arrive in Britain by
boats. In an extract from a new edited volume, Daniel Trilling reports on t...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
It really is worth taking the time to hear from people like “Mary,” who fled from Zimbabwe 20 years ago, to understand what life is like when the law denies you the chance to call the country where you’ve made your life home
Reposted by Mike Brewer
New spotlight from me covering what the latest inflation data means for benefit uprating out now. Here’s a quick summary:
October 23, 2025 at 8:16 AM
New spotlight from me covering what the latest inflation data means for benefit uprating out now. Here’s a quick summary:
New week, new job at Resolution Foundation?
We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
October 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New week, new job at Resolution Foundation?
We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
We have a vacancy at the top of our research team to plan and manage major strands of our research and policy output. In particular, they will develop and lead our work on growth and productivity, building on the Economy 2030 Inquiry.
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Meant to read it when it came out. @chrisgiles.ft.com makes the case that costs are NOT spiralling, and UK welfare doesn't deserve its moral panic. on.ft.com/4hfE9kr
October 18, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Meant to read it when it came out. @chrisgiles.ft.com makes the case that costs are NOT spiralling, and UK welfare doesn't deserve its moral panic. on.ft.com/4hfE9kr
Reposted by Mike Brewer
📢 New analysis!
What is the OBR’s forecast for trend productivity growth, and why does it matter so much for the Budget?
Find out more here ⤵️ buff.ly/KmJEg1Y
What is the OBR’s forecast for trend productivity growth, and why does it matter so much for the Budget?
Find out more here ⤵️ buff.ly/KmJEg1Y
October 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
📢 New analysis!
What is the OBR’s forecast for trend productivity growth, and why does it matter so much for the Budget?
Find out more here ⤵️ buff.ly/KmJEg1Y
What is the OBR’s forecast for trend productivity growth, and why does it matter so much for the Budget?
Find out more here ⤵️ buff.ly/KmJEg1Y
Reposted by Mike Brewer
"The wealth tax debate shouldn’t be separate from the one about how we tax property and pensions – that’s where most of the country’s wealth sits." c/o @resfoundation.bsky.social Bet it will continue to be, though. 🙄
October 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
"The wealth tax debate shouldn’t be separate from the one about how we tax property and pensions – that’s where most of the country’s wealth sits." c/o @resfoundation.bsky.social Bet it will continue to be, though. 🙄
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Missed our recent Inequalities Seminar?
@katymorris.bsky.social explores the effects of income misperceptions on inequality beliefs and preferences, comparing the local and national levels.
Watch now ⬇️
@katymorris.bsky.social explores the effects of income misperceptions on inequality beliefs and preferences, comparing the local and national levels.
Watch now ⬇️
LSE III Event | Local versus National: The effect of income (mis)perceptions on inequality beliefs
Part of the Inequalities Seminar Series
Tuesday 30 September, 12.30 - 1.30pm. In-person and online seminar. CBG 2.03.
Speaker: Dr Katy Morris, Postdoctoral Fellow, Swedish Institute for Social…
youtu.be
October 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Missed our recent Inequalities Seminar?
@katymorris.bsky.social explores the effects of income misperceptions on inequality beliefs and preferences, comparing the local and national levels.
Watch now ⬇️
@katymorris.bsky.social explores the effects of income misperceptions on inequality beliefs and preferences, comparing the local and national levels.
Watch now ⬇️
My small contribution to today's great RF report on wealth inequality was to have us headline with the metric for measuring wealth gaps that I first came across in the work of the late John Hills
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
Lifetime of earnings not enough for UK workers to join wealthiest 10%, report says
Research finds it would take average worker saving all their earnings for 52 years to match wealth of richest 10th of society
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:53 PM
My small contribution to today's great RF report on wealth inequality was to have us headline with the metric for measuring wealth gaps that I first came across in the work of the late John Hills
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Great column from @sarahoconnorft.ft.com where she casts her forensic eye over the introduction of collective bargaining in the social care sector. TL:DR it could work given adult care is a weird market largely paid for by local authorities; but as usual will there be enough cash? on.ft.com/4mSfeVm
The most radical Labour plan you haven’t heard about
Collective bargaining in social care could save an ailing sector — but only if it’s done properly
on.ft.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Great column from @sarahoconnorft.ft.com where she casts her forensic eye over the introduction of collective bargaining in the social care sector. TL:DR it could work given adult care is a weird market largely paid for by local authorities; but as usual will there be enough cash? on.ft.com/4mSfeVm
Reposted by Mike Brewer
There's good news and bad news on household incomes.
While we've seen healthy income growth in the past 18 months, incomes have yet to recover from the cost of living crisis.
⬇️
While we've seen healthy income growth in the past 18 months, incomes have yet to recover from the cost of living crisis.
⬇️
September 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
There's good news and bad news on household incomes.
While we've seen healthy income growth in the past 18 months, incomes have yet to recover from the cost of living crisis.
⬇️
While we've seen healthy income growth in the past 18 months, incomes have yet to recover from the cost of living crisis.
⬇️
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Amid reports that MPs and an advisory taskforce will recommend scrapping the two-child limit on benefits, it's worth noting that this step would be the most targeted and cost-effective way for the Government to meet its aim of reducing child poverty ⤵️
September 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Amid reports that MPs and an advisory taskforce will recommend scrapping the two-child limit on benefits, it's worth noting that this step would be the most targeted and cost-effective way for the Government to meet its aim of reducing child poverty ⤵️
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Helpful and easy to read blog from ONS on their improvements to labour market stats. More of this kind of thing, please ! Couple of things to highlight
blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/09/23/l...
blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/09/23/l...
Lifting the lid on our work to improve labour market statistics
The ONS’s new Director-General for Surveys and Economic and Social Statistics, James Benford, talks through work going on beyond the scenes to improve our statistics after a week with several major
blog.ons.gov.uk
September 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Helpful and easy to read blog from ONS on their improvements to labour market stats. More of this kind of thing, please ! Couple of things to highlight
blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/09/23/l...
blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/09/23/l...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Useful reminder from Peter Kellner on the problems we refuse to acknowledge are getting better, and the politics of hopelessness that this breeds
open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...
open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...
September 23, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Useful reminder from Peter Kellner on the problems we refuse to acknowledge are getting better, and the politics of hopelessness that this breeds
open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...
open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
UK CPI inflation was 3.8% in August, in line with market and BoE expectations. Below the top line there was some good news on underlying inflation but food price inflation accelerated to 5.1%, increasing pressure on struggling families. Short thread to follow...
September 17, 2025 at 6:12 AM
UK CPI inflation was 3.8% in August, in line with market and BoE expectations. Below the top line there was some good news on underlying inflation but food price inflation accelerated to 5.1%, increasing pressure on struggling families. Short thread to follow...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
This report, which I’ve worked on round the edges, is really interesting & contains some good news on both savings & credit card debt
BUT sign up to find out why this hasn’t done much for the sense of economic security & some critical caveats, like energy arrears
BUT sign up to find out why this hasn’t done much for the sense of economic security & some critical caveats, like energy arrears
🚨Event Wednesday🚨
Savings are supposed to be the first line of defence against financial shocks. But in reality, millions of families across Britain don’t have enough to be more than a few pay-days away from trouble.
Join us and our expert panel to discuss.
Register ➡️ buff.ly/8qwdAnr
Savings are supposed to be the first line of defence against financial shocks. But in reality, millions of families across Britain don’t have enough to be more than a few pay-days away from trouble.
Join us and our expert panel to discuss.
Register ➡️ buff.ly/8qwdAnr
September 9, 2025 at 7:23 AM
This report, which I’ve worked on round the edges, is really interesting & contains some good news on both savings & credit card debt
BUT sign up to find out why this hasn’t done much for the sense of economic security & some critical caveats, like energy arrears
BUT sign up to find out why this hasn’t done much for the sense of economic security & some critical caveats, like energy arrears
Not too late to sign up for our event on low-to-middle income Britain's financial resilience (on tomorrow/Wednesday morning).
www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/stron...
www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/stron...
Stronger shock absorbers • Resolution Foundation
Savings are supposed to be the first line of defence against financial shocks. But in reality, millions of families across Britain don’t have enough to be more than a few pay-days away from trouble. F...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
September 9, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Not too late to sign up for our event on low-to-middle income Britain's financial resilience (on tomorrow/Wednesday morning).
www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/stron...
www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/stron...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
🚨 We're hiring for a Principal Economist 👀
This is a unique opportunity for an individual who can conduct economic and policy analysis independently at an advanced level.
Full details here ⤵️ buff.ly/2mcx5aR
This is a unique opportunity for an individual who can conduct economic and policy analysis independently at an advanced level.
Full details here ⤵️ buff.ly/2mcx5aR
September 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
🚨 We're hiring for a Principal Economist 👀
This is a unique opportunity for an individual who can conduct economic and policy analysis independently at an advanced level.
Full details here ⤵️ buff.ly/2mcx5aR
This is a unique opportunity for an individual who can conduct economic and policy analysis independently at an advanced level.
Full details here ⤵️ buff.ly/2mcx5aR
Reposted by Mike Brewer
IT'S OUT! @ukandeu.bsky.social brand new survey of the policy challenges confronting the UK, done in partnership with the wonderful @resfoundation.bsky.social ukandeu.ac.uk/reports/poli... 1/???
September 2, 2025 at 6:05 AM
IT'S OUT! @ukandeu.bsky.social brand new survey of the policy challenges confronting the UK, done in partnership with the wonderful @resfoundation.bsky.social ukandeu.ac.uk/reports/poli... 1/???
Reposted by Mike Brewer
A quick word on today's ONS household cost indices which are the key metric for inflation experience across different household groups. Key takeaway from this morning's data (to June) is that inflation for poorer families is once again picking up...
August 28, 2025 at 10:18 AM
A quick word on today's ONS household cost indices which are the key metric for inflation experience across different household groups. Key takeaway from this morning's data (to June) is that inflation for poorer families is once again picking up...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
New workplace pension participation statistics were published this morning, revealing that certain groups remain at greater risk of heading into retirement with insufficient savings. Here’s what you need to know 🧵
July 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
New workplace pension participation statistics were published this morning, revealing that certain groups remain at greater risk of heading into retirement with insufficient savings. Here’s what you need to know 🧵
Reposted by Mike Brewer
Some heatwave weekend reading on why devolution needs to be talked about more in connection with the disability social security cuts.
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Labour’s social security reforms ignore devolution - British Politics and Policy at LSE
The Goverment's social security reforms ignore the fact that they will have different consequences depending on which part of the UK one lives in.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
July 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Some heatwave weekend reading on why devolution needs to be talked about more in connection with the disability social security cuts.
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Reposted by Mike Brewer
The DWP published this year's stats on households impacted by the two-child limit today, which include some welcome new breakdowns on gender and ethnicity, receipt of health/disability benefits, conditionality group, and whether households are affected by the benefit cap. Quick thread/
www.gov.uk
July 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The DWP published this year's stats on households impacted by the two-child limit today, which include some welcome new breakdowns on gender and ethnicity, receipt of health/disability benefits, conditionality group, and whether households are affected by the benefit cap. Quick thread/