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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.

Hey, Big Spender
Phil RennieApril 12, 2007The Salient

Does the Government actually do any good? This might sound like a strange question, but...

Sit in the corner while we rob you
Peter SaundersApril 10, 2007The Australian

IT has recently come to my attention that some of you are still smacking your...

Costello holds aces in tax deal
Robert CarlingMarch 29, 2007The Australian Financial Review

What are the rights and wrongs of this dispute and how is it likely to...

Reinventing New Zealand’s Welfare State
Peter SaundersMarch 27, 2007IA85

Government in New Zealand keeps expanding. The main driver has been the inexorable increase in...

Mismatch: Australia’s Graduates and the Job Market
Andrew NortonMarch 23, 2007IA84

Politicians and academics argue that we need more people graduating from university to meet strong...

New Zealand’s Spending Binge
Phil RennieMarch 15, 2007IA83

Core government spending is now almost $20 billion a year higher than it was in...

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...

MMP struggles in Germany, now it struggles here
March 26, 2010The National Business Review

The last time that New Zealand voted on the electoral system was in 1993, and...

The flawed giant of Europe
Oliver Marc HartwichMarch 25, 2010Business Spectator

Worries about Australia’s productivity slump have long gripped politicians and commentators. The productivity surge of...

Misguided government gets poor return for largesse
Stephen KirchnerMarch 17, 2010The Age

The growing cost of the Rudd government’s home insulation program dramatically illustrates the dangers of...

The hard part: an alternative plan for hospitals
Jeremy SammutMarch 12, 2010

Funding Competition Administration Accountability Governance Debunk the myth of ‘free’ hospital care on-demand Highlight the...

Tax reform should include cuts to marginal rates
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2010The Australian

With the recommendations of the Rudd government’s tax review (the Henry review) completed but still...

Tax cuts will help achieve productivity goal
Robert CarlingMarch 5, 2010

Despite decades of tinkering and sporadic reform, the personal income tax system remains in need...

“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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