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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.

Best way to help a warming planet is to tax carbon and let the market decide
John HumphreysJanuary 31, 2009The Age

With the country slipping into recession and the government falling into deficit, political priorities have...

Taxation rhetoric and reality
John HumphreysJanuary 30, 2009Business Spectator

In the 2008 Budget the government outlined its plan for future tax cuts. In light...

‘Rudd Bank’ puts taxpayers last
Stephen KirchnerJanuary 28, 2009The Australian Financial Review

The Rudd government’s $2 billion intervention to provide loans to the commercial property sector is...

Radical Surgery: The Only Cure for New South Wales Hospitals
Wolfgang KasperJanuary 27, 2009PM91

NSW public hospitals are plagued by massive systemic failures, as diagnosed in the Garling report....

Accepting the recession
John HumphreysJanuary 26, 2009The Canberra Times

As Australia gets caught up in the global financial crisis, there has been much discussion...

Beyond Symbolism: Finding a Place for Local Government in Australia’s Constitution
Oliver Marc HartwichJanuary 22, 2009IA104

Local governments could provide better services, like schools and fast development approvals if they received...

Humankind and the infinite resource base
Marian L. TupyApril 2, 2026OP212

This paper examines the human ability to expand our resource base into infinity. Given human...

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...

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...

Aged care
Aged care cost blowout won’t be solved by higher taxes
Simon CowanJune 17, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

This week Labor’s Aged Care Minister floated the idea of an ‘aged care levy’ to...

Taming inflation
Wages can be a great threat to taming inflation
Simon CowanJune 3, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

Reports this week that inflation has again increased to 6.8% for the year to April...

Why Jim Chalmers cannot shy away from stage three tax cuts
Simon CowanMay 20, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

As foreshadowed by some commentators prior to the budget, the Treasurer doubled down on his...

Three ways that Chalmers’ budget fiddled with the numbers
Robert CarlingMay 17, 2023AFR

There is nothing new in Treasurers stretching the truth to justify their claims to gold-medal...

Welfare looms as a budget no-win for Chalmers
Simon CowanMay 8, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

We are now in the rapid run-up to next week’s budget, with each day bringing...

“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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