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• Economic Policy

CIS is guided by the philosophy of global free markets and individual responsibility. Our economic policy research centres on ideas for continuing reform that will strengthen Australia’s economic independence and prosperity, and challenge the over-reach of big government.

The Long Road Ahead for NSW Property Tax Reform
Robert CarlingOctober 13, 2021Epoch Times

Dominic Perrottet’s elevation from treasurer to Premier of New South Wales (NSW) has brought attention...

Planning policy, not loose lending, is locking people out of the housing market
Simon CowanOctober 9, 2021Canberra Times

After months of rising house prices, government regulator APRA has finally stepped in to combat...

Australian Regulators Keeping an Eye on Its Housing Boom
Robert CarlingOctober 4, 2021The Epoch Times

Buying a house or apartment in Australia is about to become harder, especially for those...

OECD’s tax reform proposal for Australia is hard to disagree with
Robert CarlingSeptember 26, 2021Canberra Times

Calls for tax reform are always grist for the headline writers’ mill, especially when they...

Generations Apart: Richer or Poorer?
Satya Marar, Tom Ballard, Tom SwitzerSeptember 23, 2021

Just as there are no atheists on a sinking ship, there are no free-marketeers in...

Generations Apart
Tom Switzer, Satya Marar, Tom BallardSeptember 21, 2021

Over the past 18 months, younger generations of Australians have endured stresses, economic hardship and...

Why We Should Not Increase Capital Gains Tax
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2026PP64
Debate about capital gains tax rarely occurs in isolation. It typically emerges during periods of...
10 CGT Myths Busted
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2026IA155

The criticisms and characterisation of the 50% capital gains tax discount over many years have...

Growth that Builds: Beyond the immigration blame game 
Marian L. TupyMarch 5, 2026PP63
This paper argues that Australia’s housing crisis is primarily a supply failure, not simply a...
Reform of Heritage Legislation
Peter TulipFebruary 26, 2026PP62

Introduction Several states have recently overhauled their planning legislation. However, the flaws in their heritage...

Hours, Not Dollars: Rethinking the cost-of-living debate 
Marian L. TupyFebruary 23, 2026AP102

Executive Summary Public debate about the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ often confuses nominal price increases with declining...

Drowning in a Sea of Diagnoses. How medicalising distress is overwhelming Australia’s mental health system and failing those most in need
Steven SchwartzFebruary 12, 2026AP100

Executive Summary At the centre of Australia’s mental health system lies a paradox. Government...

degrowth
Degrowth proponents wrong to claim capitalism causes climate change
Simon Cowan, Gene TunnySeptember 9, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

Degrowth push to abandon capitalism, growth and innovation in the name of ecological purity would...

IGR
Opportunity abounds in IGR. Can Chalmers and political class grasp it?
Simon Cowan, Matthew TaylorAugust 26, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

In a political world obsessed with the ultra-short term, the 2023 Intergenerational Report (IGR) launched...

‘Greedflation’ myth hides real causes of inflation
Simon CowanAugust 12, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

With much fanfare this week, the ACTU initiated an “Inquiry into price gouging and unfair...

Chris Barrett 640x360
Labor shows hypocrisy in partisan political appointments
Simon CowanJuly 29, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

Many would be surprised at the coverage — and controversy — provoked by the appointment...

The Coalition can create generational voting change by tackling housing affordability
Simon CowanJuly 3, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

Australia’s centre-right political movement is in trouble. This may have seemed obvious from the fact...

Covid policies policy
Covid-era policies cost young people $116bn
Gigi FosterJune 18, 2023AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Our policymakers have yet to apologise for or even recognise the scale of the damage...

“The 50% discount is unfair” and other CGT myths | Robert Carling & Michael Stutchbury
Robert Carling, Michael StutchburyMarch 11, 2026

The criticisms and characterization of the 50% capital gains tax discount over many years have...

The Case for Optimism: More People, More Ideas, More Wealth | Marian Tupy
Marian L. Tupy, Michael StutchburyMarch 6, 2026

Marian Tupy — editor of HumanProgress.org, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and co-author of...

Old buildings and the housing crisis with Peter Tulip
Peter TulipMarch 4, 2026

Peter Tulip explains how several states have recently overhauled their planning legislation. However, the flaws...

Angus Taylor at CIS: Economic Reform, Immigration, and Australia’s Cost of Living Crisis
Angus Taylor, Michael StutchburyFebruary 19, 2026

Speaking at his first address outside Canberra since being elected Leader of the Opposition by...

Reflecting Back: John Howard and Alexander Downer on Power, Alliances and Australia
John Howard OM AC, Alexander DownerFebruary 6, 2026

Alexander Downer and former Prime Minister John Howard join author Tony Parkinson and CIS Executive...

‘NIMBYism is a cancer’: Bragg outlines housing policy vision with Peter Tulip & Michael Stutchbury
Andrew Bragg, Peter Tulip, Michael StutchburyDecember 12, 2025

Senator Andrew Bragg and economist Peter Tulip join Michael Stutchbury for a wide-ranging conversation on...

Submission to Senate Inquiry into Illegal Tobacco Crisis in Australia
Michael StutchburyJanuary 15, 2026
The federal government should pause increases in tobacco excise to weaken the profit of the...
Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

Submission to Productivity Commission’s Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation Interim Report
September 15, 2025

The Productivity Commission’s statement that careful emissions reduction policy design will enable gains in productivity...

Submission to Heritage NSW
Peter TulipJuly 18, 2025CIS

This submission argues that NSW’s heritage legislation has serious flaws. In particular, costs of listing...

Submission to Victorian Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry
Peter TulipMay 5, 2025CIS

Victoria Planning Provisions Amendments VC257, VC267 and VC274: Submission to Victorian Legislative Council Select Committee...

Submission to the Inquiry into financial regulation and home ownership
Peter TulipOctober 15, 2024
Regulation of the financial system is needed to protect depositors and avoid financial crises. However,...
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