Having moved to be Provost of The Queen's College Oxford in summer 2025 Paul continues to work, write and speak on economics and public policy. He is a columnist for The Times, a regular contributor to other broadcast and print media and author of the bestselling book Follow the Money: How Much Does Britain Cost?

Paul’s expertise spans the UK economy and public finances, tax, pensions, education, health, climate change, and other areas of economics and policy. He has presented numerous programmes for BBC Radio 4, has hosted the popular podcasts IFS Zooms In and The Expert Factor, and is a regular guest on news and current affairs programmes including Any Questions and Question Time. As a former director of public spending and HM Treasury, chief economist at the Department for Education and deputy head of the Government Economic Service he brings practical experience of government and politics to his analysis of economic policy.

Paul was, for a decade, a member of the Climate Change Committee. He has served on the council of the Royal Economic Society and of the Economic and Social Research Council, as well as on numerous commissions for government and others, covering issues such as auto enrolment, inflation, devolution, tax, inequality, health, education and crime.