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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 Price of Crime Without Doing Time
Nicole BillanteFebruary 7, 2003The Newcastle Herald

The Australian crime rate has escalated over the past 40 years. According to the International...

Tax is the key to welfare reform
Peter SaundersJanuary 20, 2003The Australian Financial Review

Tony Abbott wants to reform tax and welfare so that it pays to work. His...

Poor Laws (2): The Minimum Wage and Unemployment
Kayoko TsumoriDecember 2, 2002IA28

Many social policy researchers and practitioners in Australia believe that a high minimum wage helps...

Outdated laws create problems for universities
November 21, 2002The Courier Mail

Gloom and Australia's universities are longtime companions. The National Library's catalogue records half a dozen...

The Unchained University
Andrew NortonNovember 19, 2002PM56

Australia’s universities are not preparing students adequately for their futures. Report author and higher education...

Lies and statistics
Helen HughesNovember 4, 2002The Australian Financial Review

Surjit Bhalla's book Imagine There's No Country has created a furore in Washington by convincingly...

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...

Sad songs from Portugal
Oliver Marc HartwichApril 21, 2011Business Spectator

The large concert hall is almost silent when Ana Bacalhau of the Portuguese band Deolinda...

Tough talking budgets
Stephen KirchnerApril 15, 2011

The government has once again flagged the need for a  tough federal budget. But the...

Out of Iceland’s ashes
Oliver Marc HartwichApril 14, 2011Business Spectator

Icelanders are a tough people. No one turns catastrophes into opportunities as well as the...

Trimming to fit budget’s reduced revenue
Stephen KirchnerApril 13, 2011The Australian

The government has once again flagged the need for a tough federal budget. But the...

Smokers already being ripped off — plain packaging is just insulting
Adam CreightonApril 12, 2011Crikey

Australia’s four million-odd smokers had already been paying an extra $5.5 billion a year in...

A failure of political leadership
Stephen KirchnerApril 11, 2011The Straits Times

Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan's rejection of Singapore Exchange's (SGX) bid for the Australian Securities Exchange...

“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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