A Switch to Active Fiscal Policy: NIESR Response to Budget 2020

On Wednesday 11th March 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his first Budget only 27 days after being appointed. The Chancellor delivered this first, post-Brexit Budget for this Government, which has a strong mandate after its comprehensive election victory in December that should be strong enough to implement a strategy for reform over the whole of this parliament.

The opening section of this analysis provides an overview and response to the 2020 Budget, followed by comments on the following topics before concluding:

• Increase in the National Living Wage (page 7)
• R&D Investment (page 8)
• Increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (page 8)
• Broadband Investment (page 9)
• Investment in Housing (page 10)
• Initiatives to help the NHS Tackle the Coronavirus (page10)