WhatIF? Podcast The Intergenerational Foundation

This episode explores the intergenerational fairness case for a wealth tax with discussion between IF co-founders Angus Hanton and Liz Emerson and the report author, Alec Haglund. It discusses how a moderate wealth tax would affect just 1% of the UK population while raising at least £18 billion a year which could be used to lower younger people's tax rates or even invest in free higher education.

Over the last 3 years these podcasts have been delving into a range of topics regarding intergenerational unfairness and we’ve provided a platform for dozens of people from all walks of life to have a voice. So for our season finale, it seems fitting to take us back to where we first started and talk to the people who started it all.

We’re facing a shortage of affordable houses, and historically high levels of rent. Yet, despite this- over two thirds of homes across the UK are under-occupied. How does that make sense? We have the supply of rooms, and we have the demand from young renters- what’s the need for a crisis? What IF we brought back the lodgers?

University for young people today is expensive. Current students will be paying off their loans for the next 30 years, and 2023-24 university starters will be paying off for 40 years. Most will never repay their debt. Instead they will be on a treadmill of interest payments for the majority of their working life. What IF we didn’t have a cohort of struggling students?

The UK needs to make significant efforts to decarbonise its transport network. How? Well – one way to do this is limiting UK-based aviation. Flying is the most environmentally harmful modes of transport. Alternatively, travel by train is seven times more environmentally friendly than flying. What IF we took trains instead of planes?

The cost of living crisis means there’s less money coming in, and more money going out. So where does this leave young people and savings? What IF saving money was possible for the young? In our first episode of Season 3, Alisa Anwar talks to IF researcher Alec Haglund, young people Rory, Cameron and John, and Curtis Banks to find out more...