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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 Road to Work: Freeing Up the Labour Market
Kayoko TsumoriJuly 15, 2005PM64

This monograph outlines a framework for a more flexible, deregulated labour market which could strengthen...

Six Arguments in Favour of Self-Funding
Peter SaundersJuly 14, 2005IA61

This report is the second in a series of three titled ‘Restoring Self-Reliance in Welfare.’...

Are there any good arguments against cutting income taxes?
Sinclair DavidsonJuly 1, 2005PM69

The 2005 federal budget caused a storm of protest from the Labor Party, the trade...

State Taxes: In Serious Need of Reform
Michael PotterJune 11, 2005Policy

State tax systems are inefficient, inequitable and overly complex. Read full article

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In Defence of Global Capitalism
Johan NorbergJune 2, 2005SP08

Political power has always been a creature of geography, based on physical control of a...

Lower tax rates for a truly beautiful set of numbers
Alex RobsonMay 18, 2005The Australian

The changes announced by Treasurer Peter Costello to the personal income tax system last week...

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...

Ferry woes show no signs of abating
Alexander PhilipatosMay 27, 2011

In 2009–10, the state-owned Sydney Ferries carried just 1.7% more passengers than in 2004–05, beset...

Dwelling upon ‘investment’
Adam CreightonMay 23, 2011The Age

Ask any economist. Buying a house or unit that someone else built is not an...

IMF’s credibility sinks with its head
Adam CreightonMay 20, 2011

The arrest of the former head of the International Monetary Fund in New York provides...

The long sleepy drift into federation
May 20, 2011

New Zealand has long been imbued with a soft socialism combined with a ‘she’ll be...

Budget office helps pollies, not punters
Stephen KirchnerMay 20, 2011ABC News

Thirty-five years ago, Donald Horne reflected that ‘Australia is one of the most economic nations...

Europe enters a wintery spring
Oliver Marc HartwichMay 19, 2011Business Spectator

When the European Union presents its economic forecasts, it often does not receive much public...

“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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