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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 Ethics of Economic Freedom
Herbert GierschMarch 3, 1989OP24

An economic order is always based on a certian set of moral principles. This applies...

The Welfare State: Foundations and Alternatives
Michael JamesMarch 1, 1989PF7

The central question for public policy in the 1990s is whether the state should retain...

Social Welfare: The Changing Debate
David GreenMay 5, 1988OP20

The Centre for Independent Studies Social Welfare Program has commissioned studies by qualified economists and...

Restraining Leviathan: Small Government in Practice
Michael James, Hugh Collins, J.J. Pincus, Patrick Minford, Cliff Walsh, Peter Swan AO, A.J. Moran, Ian Harper, Wolfgang Kasper, Chris Trengove, Keith Trace, Peter Forsyth, Scott Prasser, John D. Craig, James Cox, Robin O'Hair, Geoffrey Brennan, George WintertonOctober 1, 1987PF6

Foreword This collection seeks to increase our understanding of the scope and opportunities we have...

Beyond the Current Pessimism
Ray BallAugust 5, 1987OP18

Professor Ray Ball gives a personal interpretation of the historical roots of Australia’s economic malaise....

Takeovers and Corporate Control: Towards a New Regulatory Environment
Peter DoddJuly 1, 1987PF5

In much economic and political discourse, the word ‘market’ is used in a very general...

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...

US will Remain the Preeminent Player in Asia
John LeeJuly 1, 2011China - US Focus

In early May, I gave an interview to the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper arguing...

Perk Street is not as one-way as employed, childless renters think
Adam CreightonJuly 1, 2011The Sydney Morning Herald

If you are working, renting and childless, you might feel Australian democracy neglects you. For...

Go West? ‘Get out of Sydney’ grants an expensive distraction
July 1, 2011

Is the ghost of Bob Carr lurking in Macquarie Street? When he was NSW Premier,...

The phantom giant of Luxembourg
Oliver Marc HartwichJune 30, 2011Business Spectator

If there has ever been a country routinely punching above its weight it is Luxembourg....

Time for Greece to be forced to live within its means
Adam CreightonJune 28, 2011Crikey

Pericles, ancient Greek statesman, gloated in the 5th century BC that Greece, a fledgling democracy,...

A Key visit for New Zealand
Luke MalpassJune 24, 2011

It was disappointing that Prime Minister John Key’s visit to Australia was dominated by breathless...

“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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