Hugh's review: How long will austerity last?
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that spending cuts might have to continue until 2020, meaning the period of austerity could last a full decade.
This depends on whether growth picks up enough to help bring down borrowing for whoever is in charge at the Treasury after the next election.
Hugh Pym discusses the issue with Carl Emmerson from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Alan Clarke of Scotiabank.