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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.

How to reverse Whitlam-sized growth in government
Robert CarlingMay 8, 2022Australian Financial Review

The day before news broke that inflation had surged to 5 per cent, the Australian...

Wages growth boost would boost government’s election hopes
Simon CowanMay 7, 2022Canberra Times

This week, the Reserve Bank increased interest rates by 0.25%. This comes in response to...

Reserve Bank must be made accountable for inflation mistakes
Peter TulipMay 1, 2022Financial Review

Both major political parties support an external review of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)...

Structural reform of the Reserve Bank of Australia
Peter TulipApril 28, 2022AP36
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) structure makes mistakes likely. This paper outlines the need...
The biggest issues facing the Reserve Bank of Australia
Simon Cowan, Peter TulipApril 26, 2022Canberra Times

Hip pocket issues have always been a key part of any election campaign. In that...

Diplomatic: A Washington Memoir Book Launch
Joe Hockey, James Morrow, Simon CowanApril 21, 2022
CIS welcomed former Treasurer and Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey to launch his...
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 Next Fall of Rome
Oliver Marc HartwichApril 15, 2010Business Spectator
Bond market vigilantes should also weigh the risks of continued inactivity
Stephen KirchnerApril 13, 2010Sydney Morning Herald

Global bond markets are jittery against a backdrop of unprecedented fiscal deficits, the monetisation of...

Let’s ignore snobs of Old Europe
Jens SchroederApril 13, 2010The Sydney Morning Herald

For Europeans, as the Swiss banker father of a friend of mine once said, Australians...

Too good to be true?
Robert CarlingApril 9, 2010

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

...
The ‘postmodern economy’ was a con
Oliver Marc HartwichApril 8, 2010Business Spectator

When Tony Blair became British Prime Minister in 1997, the soundtrack to his election campaign...

The home ownership nightmare
Oliver Marc HartwichApril 1, 2010Business Spectator

The reader comments on the London Evening Standard website were furious. Anger, contempt and ridicule...

“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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