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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.

Free to Grow: Unlocking Economic Prosperity
Professor John H. Cochrane, Gene TunnySeptember 7, 2023
CIS welcomes Professor John Cochrane for a lecture and conversation with economist and CIS adjunct...
Debunking Degrowth
Gene TunnySeptember 7, 2023AP54
In a country with a growing population, such as Australia, a policy of degrowth would...
Politicisation – the attack on merit and our way of life
Scott Prasser, Karla PincottSeptember 6, 2023Liberalism in Question

Below is an excerpt from Scott Prasser paper, which can be read here. Types of...

The Rental Crisis. Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee
Peter TulipAugust 31, 2023

Rents are too high. This leads to homelessness, rental stress, long commutes, overcrowding, and a...

Rental and Housing Affordability with Peter Tulip
Peter Tulip, Karla PincottAugust 30, 2023Liberalism in Question

Rental and Housing Affordability with Peter Tulip: We need to relax zoning restrictions to allow...

IGR
Opportunity abounds in IGR. Can Chalmers and political class grasp it?
Simon Cowan, Matthew TaylorAugust 26, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

In a political world obsessed with the ultra-short term, the 2023 Intergenerational Report (IGR) launched...

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...

Unfettered deregulation for varsities
April 29, 2002The Australian Financial Review

Reserve Bank Governor Ian Macfarlane created headlines recently with his remarks about Australia lacking a...

Give choice a chance: Market phobia sees universities clinging to the stable penury of government funding
March 13, 2002The Australian

Five years ago, like today, there were signs that commonwealth higher education policy might be...

We are liable for ourselves: Scrap negligence law and encourage self-insurance
Julian MorrisMarch 6, 2002The Australian

The headlines beggar belief: Insurance giant collapses; Doctors driven to the brink of bankruptcy; Amateur...

Be a realist, not a lap dog: A cooling off period will improve ties with indonesia
Owen HarriesMarch 4, 2002The Australian

Ours is an age that believes in action. Faced with a problem, virtually any problem,...

Threshold issues for a tax system that creates jobs
Peter SaundersNovember 30, 2001The Australian Financial Review

An important debate is taking place in Australia about the future of welfare, taxation and...

A tax credit system should be the basis for funding education
Jennifer Buckingham OAMOctober 20, 2001The Australian Financial Review

There is not much for parents or schools to get excited about in the education...

“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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