The Financial Times has launched the Budget Game: an interactive experience that challenges players to step into the shoes of the UK’s chief financial minister and devise a plan for the Budget. The game is available to both subscribers and non-subscribers.

FT visual stories and investigations editor Sam Joiner said: “The game simulates the real-world trade-offs that chancellor Rachel Reeves will have to contend with as she plans for Labour’s first Budget in 14 years.”

The Budget Game is a part of the FT’s in-depth coverage of the 2024 UK Autumn Budget. Alongside news, opinion and analysis, this will include Inside Politics, Stephen Bush’s daily newsletter, and Political Fix, a weekly UK politics podcast presented by Lucy Fisher.

How the Budget Game works

The game was created by the Financial Times with economic modelling provided by the Resolution Foundation, an independent think-tank.

Readers have six weeks to devise a plan and must answer questions on health, defence, investment, welfare and tax. They must stick to a set of fiscal rules, but they also need to keep their cabinet colleagues, the prime minister — and ultimately voters — happy. 

The baseline fiscal forecast used in this game is based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook from March 2024. The Resolution Foundation has extended this to 2029-30, assuming that overall tax and spending levels remain at steady shares of GDP.

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For more information, please contact: mark.staniland@ft.com 

About the Financial Times

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of 1.4 million, more than one million of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.