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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 Whiff of Compassion? The Attack on Mutual Obligation
Peter SaundersJune 10, 2008IA96

Mutual obligation requires people receiving welfare benefits to undertake a prescribed activity or forfeit some...

Putting democracy in China on hold
John LeeMay 28, 2008

WHY DEMOCRACY IS GOING BACKWARDS IN CHINA Since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest, China has...

The Budget is not what it seems
Robert CarlingMay 20, 2008The Age

The Rudd government wants us to believe that it has laboured mightily to bring forth...

Budget boredom for schools but watch this space
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 15, 2008Crikey

One word encapsulates the 2008-09 federal budget as it relates to schools – boring. It...

Family tax benefits still a mass of contradictions
May 15, 2008Crikey

Well budget night is over. Anyone hosting a Working Families budget party (you know, every...

The Future Fund – why they can’t just give it back
Peter SaundersMay 15, 2008Crikey

Announcing in his budget speech that $40 billion was to be shovelled into three new...

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 Economic Consensus We Could Do Without
Stephen KirchnerJune 25, 2010

Treasury Secretary Ken Henry this week accused academic economists of being ‘loath to come to...

PM Rudd’s demise signals more modest Australian foreign policy
John LeeJune 25, 2010Inquirer
Tax reform: Kiwis 3, Aussies NIL
Luke MalpassJune 4, 2010

Luke Malpass is a Policy Analyst with the Centre’s New Zealand Policy Unit.

...
Little John shows Kevin how it’s done
June 4, 2010The Australian
Where Europe’s smart money hides
Oliver Marc HartwichJune 3, 2010Business Spectator

Some currencies suffer in uncertain times, and there are other currencies that thrive on uncertainty...

RSPT debate put on ice
Robert CarlingMay 28, 2010

Robert Carling is a Senior Fellow at The Centre for Independent Studies.

...
“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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