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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.

A Welfare State for Those Who Want One, Opts-outs for Those Who Don’t
Peter SaundersJanuary 30, 2007IA79

This paper looks at how the long-term growth of government spending, and the erosion of...

When an apple is not simply an apple
Phil RennieJanuary 12, 2007The Otago Times

If there’s one thing Australia is bad at, it’s losing. This applies to trade just...

What would Hayek say?
Greg Lindsay AODecember 29, 2006

In the past month, Australian intellectual life has been made somewhat livelier by a sideshow...

Do tax cuts make a difference?
Phil RennieDecember 12, 2006New Zealand Center For Political Debate

With a budget surplus of over $11 billion the government is fast running out of...

The blight of restrictive trade policy
Phil RennieDecember 12, 2006The Canberra Times

Protectionism is alive and well in Australia with some of the biggest culprits raising their...

State Taxation and Fiscal Federalism: A Blueprint for Further Reform
Robert CarlingNovember 3, 2006PM73

This paper identifies major structural flaws in our current taxation system and develops a set...

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...

The myth of green jobs is leading to industrial decline
Oliver Marc HartwichMarch 5, 2011The Australian

Politicians love “creating'' jobs, especially when these jobs serve a greater good, such as fighting...

Dump anti-dumping rules to protect consumers
Stephen KirchnerMarch 2, 2011The Australian

The Australian Workers Union has launched a campaign to strengthen Australia's anti-dumping regime, claiming that...

The ascent of lying
Oliver Marc HartwichMarch 1, 2011Business Spectator

When Prime Minister Gillard announced her intention to tax carbon despite her election promises to...

Levy a $750 cup of coffee
Robert CarlingMarch 1, 2011The Australian

Making the price of a product appear cheaper than the reality is a common marketing...

The language of tax and spend
Robert CarlingFebruary 25, 2011

Making the price of a product appear cheaper than the reality is a common marketing...

How the states measure up
Robert CarlingFebruary 18, 2011

Fiscal management attracts a lot of attention at the Commonwealth level but less so at...

“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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