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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.

Economic 92
Tim RileyDecember 21, 1991SP1992
Liberating Labour: The Case for Freedom of Contract in Labour Relations
Michael JamesAugust 5, 1991OP36

Although the case against centralised wage-fixing has won increasing support in recent years, many reservations...

Dismantling Socialism: A Preliminary Report
Vaclav KlausAugust 5, 1991OP35

In the eighth John Bonython Lecture, Václav Klaus, Finance Minister of Czechoslovakia, gives an account...

Contestable Funding: A New Deal for Research and Development in New Zealand
Veronica JacobsenJuly 1, 1991PM19

One of the first substantive measures of public sector reform undertaken by the 1984-1990 Labour...

The Market Process and Environmental Amenities
Terry L. AndersonMay 6, 1991OP34

Most observers believe that free markets self-evidently harm the environment, and that the only available...

Mine by Rights or Right to Mine? Mining Policy in New Zealand
Veronica JacobsenMarch 20, 1991CIS

Minerals, the land above them and the surrounding environment are scarce resources. If they are...

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...

Drowning in a Sea of Diagnoses. How medicalising distress is overwhelming Australia’s mental health system and failing those most in need
Steven SchwartzFebruary 12, 2026AP100

Executive Summary At the centre of Australia’s mental health system lies a paradox. Government...

It’s time to bring back a bit of class to rail travel
Oliver Marc HartwichOctober 29, 2009The Sydney Morning Herald

It’s a pity this year’s Nobel Prize for physics has already been awarded to achievements...

Return to Flyer times with business class
Jennifer Buckingham OAMOctober 29, 2009The Newcastle Herald

The new train service between Sydney and Newcastle advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald promised...

We’re Not So Healthy
Greg LindsayOctober 28, 2009American Enterprise Institute

‘It’s 28th in infant mortality. It’s 47th for number of doctors per capita. On available...

The US deficit canary has rattled the cage in warning of dire eventualities
Robert CarlingOctober 27, 2009The Age

Imagine our Government’s finances being in such bad shape that the Treasury sounded a public...

The next financial crisis is around the corner
Robert CarlingOctober 23, 2009

Even as the current global financial crisis loosens its grip, the seeds of the next...

Moore Hypocrisy and Hype
Meegan CornforthOctober 23, 2009

In his latest celluloid uppercut to the upper crust, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore examines the...

“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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