Nearly one in three adults in the UK is obese, and governments have introduced a growing range of policies aimed at improving our diets. From taxes on sugary drinks to restrictions on junk food advertising, the government is increasingly trying to influence what we eat. But are these policies actually working?

In this episode, Helen Miller is joined by Henry Dimbleby, author of the National Food Strategy, and IFS researcher Gautam Vyas to examine the economics of healthy eating.

They discuss why governments intervene in our diets, whether the UK's sugar tax has been successful, and the unintended consequences of restricting unhealthy food. They also explore whether weight-loss drugs could fundamentally change how we think about obesity, nutrition and the government's role in shaping our diets.

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What has the Autumn Budget changed for households, public services and the public finances?

Helen Miller is joined by IFS economists Jonathan Cribb and Max Warner to unpack the announcements and the economic outlook. They discuss the support for households, changes to taxes and energy bills, and the Chancellor’s decision to accept higher borrowing.

With spending growth set to slow and difficult decisions left for next year’s Spending Review, how credible are the plans to bring borrowing down? And what does the Budget mean for living standards and the pressures facing public services?

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Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts

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What should we expect from the upcoming Budget? With energy prices rising, pressure on public services and government borrowing already high, the Chancellor faces some difficult choices.

Recorded live at the British Library as part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science, Helen Miller is joined by IFS economists Max Warner and Stuart Adam to discuss what might be announced at the October Budget.

They explore how the government could support households facing higher energy bills, whether businesses might receive further help, and how any new measures could be funded. Could the Chancellor borrow more, raise taxes on banks and landlords, or make bigger changes to the tax and benefit system?

They also discuss the pressures facing public services, the limits imposed by the government's tax pledges, and the measures they'd most like the Chancellor to avoid.

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Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts

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