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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.

Ripped off and overcharged? Not necessarily
Oliver Marc HartwichFebruary 2, 2010The Courier-Mail

Executives at retail giant Coles certainly have a good sense for PR. On Australia Day...

Shooting the Messenger: The Ban on Short Selling
John M. Green, Stephen Kirchner, Robert BianchiFebruary 1, 2010PF19

In September 2008, governments around the world instituted bans on the short sale of equity...

Imbalances essential to global economic system
Stephen KirchnerJanuary 22, 2010The Australian

The federal Treasury’s David Gruen recently told a conference at the University of Western Australia...

Economic policy must re-earn our respect
Stephen KirchnerJanuary 20, 2010Business Spectator

Financial market pundits in Australia and abroad are thoroughly divided on the inflation outlook. Some...

Research key to balancing pay equity with jobs growth
Ian HarperDecember 30, 2009The Age

The Australian Fair Pay Commission made its final decision on minimum wages in July, when...

The seasonal satisfaction index
Stephen KirchnerDecember 26, 2009Sydney Morning Herald

In 1993, the American Economic Review published an article by Joel Waldfogel called ‘The Deadweight...

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...

Fix policies to make housing affordable
Peter SaundersMarch 16, 2005

The house price bubble has finally burst. While it lasted, the boom added substantially to...

Why people are wrong to oppose economic growth
Winton BatesDecember 15, 2004The Canberra Times

After a brief appearance in the 1970s, opposition to economic growth has resurfaced. Over the...

Higher taxes a threat to competitiveness
Peter BurnNovember 25, 2004The Australian Financial Review

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, total tax collections in Australia are about 31.5...

Flat-out making some proportional changes
Lauchlan ChipmanNovember 17, 2004The Newcastle Herald

OF the many assumptions behind Australia’s taxation system, two stand out. One is that personal...

High time to look at equitable version of flat tax
Lauchlan ChipmanNovember 4, 2004The Australian Financial Review

In an interview before the election on October 9, Prime Minister John Howard agreed Australia’s...

Land use rules erode freedom
Wolfgang KasperSeptember 16, 2004The West Australian

Environmental regulations threaten constitutional rights dating back to Magna Carta, Wolfgang Kasper argues. Unease over...

“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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