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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.

REJOICE! TAX FREEDOM DAY IS FRIDAY, 9 APRIL
April 9, 2010

Australians will spend the first 98 days of this year working for the government.  ‘April...

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...

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...

Kick-Starting Kiwi democracy: Why New Zealand Should Abandon MMP
March 22, 2010

New Zealanders need to seize the opportunity of the upcoming referendum on electoral reform and...

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...

Tax is the key to welfare reform
Peter SaundersJanuary 20, 2003The Australian Financial Review

Tony Abbott wants to reform tax and welfare so that it pays to work. His...

Outdated laws create problems for universities
November 21, 2002The Courier Mail

Gloom and Australia's universities are longtime companions. The National Library's catalogue records half a dozen...

Lies and statistics
Helen HughesNovember 4, 2002The Australian Financial Review

Surjit Bhalla's book Imagine There's No Country has created a furore in Washington by convincingly...

Only deregulation can create jobs
Kayoko TsumoriOctober 21, 2002The Australian Financial Review

The unemployment rate in August 2002 stood at 6.2%—a high figure considering continuing economic growth....

Will higher funding really deliver higher education?
September 3, 2002The Age

A curious feature of the current higher education debate is that very little of it...

Growth needs basic rules
Wolfgang KasperJune 28, 2002The New Zealand Herald

The New Zealand economy is one of the freest in the world. This still holds...

“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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