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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.

Australia’s recession in perspective
John HumphreysJune 4, 2009Open Forum

A few weeks ago I suggested that we should be relatively optimistic about the Australian...

The Folly of Criminalising Cartels
Jason SoonJune 3, 2009IA111

A cartel is an agreement between competitors not to compete. The most well-known and publicised...

Big government not so smart
Oliver Marc HartwichMay 26, 2009opinion online

Treasurer Wayne Swan’s second budget speech will not be remembered for long. It was probably...

Kiwi Crunch Time
Luke MalpassMay 26, 2009Wall Street Journal Asia

NZ Prime Minister John Key often talks about his desire to grow New Zealand out...

The madding crowding out
Stephen KirchnerMay 22, 2009The Age

Treasurer Wayne Swan didn’t feel the need to mention the size of the deficit on...

Shovel ready what?
May 22, 2009

Recessions seem to be an opportunity for people to spout kooky ideas. That’s fine unless...

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...

Raise taxes
Why we can’t just raise taxes, as Stage 3 tax cut debate rages
Simon CowanOctober 22, 2022CANBERRA TIMES

We should take proposals to raise taxes seriously — not least because the Labor party...

Queensland: renewable one day, not feasible the next
The Hon Dr Gary JohnsOctober 13, 2022SPECTATOR AUSTRALIA

There are numerous intelligent ways to respond to the risk of climate change. Setting costly...

Labor’s October budget presents Treasurer Jim Chalmers difficult choices
Simon CowanOctober 10, 2022CANBERRA TIMES

The press gallery is buzzing, the weather is as cold and miserable as Ebenezer Scrooge’s...

LIZ-TRUSS-UK-TAX-RELIEF-16x9
UK tax relief shows Thatcher’s spirit is alive, but can it survive?
Robert CarlingSeptember 29, 2022THE AUSTRALIAN

True believers in lower taxes and smaller government have had little to celebrate in a...

Queensland land tax
Queensland land tax imposes a new national tax
Robert CarlingSeptember 14, 2022EPOCH TIMES

Queensland’s government proclaims in the spirit of the state’s long-standing fiscal tradition that it “is...

SUPER WARS
The next tax raid in the super wars
Robert CarlingSeptember 12, 2022SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE

One predictable consequence of the change of government in May was that it would take...

“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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