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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.

Alarm bells ringing on more interest rate pain
Michael StutchburyMarch 18, 2026DAILY TELEGRAPH
Australians were losing faith that the combination of Labor’s economic policies and the RBA monetary...
Trisha Jha on science of learning, Peter Tulip on the RBA hikes, and more
March 17, 2026

Peter Tulip on 2GB Money News re the forthcoming RBA decision — from 2:30 to...

March Appeal CIS Newsletter
March 16, 2026

Taylor pressed on trade, migration and the limits of government Michael Stutchbury sat down with...

Michael Stutchbury on inflation, Steven Schwartz on NDIS, Robert Carling and Peter Tulip on CGT
March 16, 2026

More taxes to cover Labor’s failures — across NewsCorp Economist Robert Carling, who authored a...

Four-day working week a 1970s echo
Michael StutchburyMarch 13, 2026

I’ve been banging on about the Centre for Independent Studies’ 50th year being an echo...

More coverage of Robert Carling’s paper on capital gains tax
March 12, 2026

Allegra Spender urges major tax overhaul to cut CGT discount — across NewsCorp The Centre...

The Rhetoric and Reality of Income Redistribution
Gordon TullockSeptember 25, 1981OP5

Income distribution is an overwhelming part of the program of all governments. Too often, however,...

Taxation, Inflation and the Role of the Government
Milton FriedmanJune 5, 1981OP4

Milton Friedman is one of the most authoritative and independent figures in the fields of...

Domestic Airline Regulation. The Australian debate
Michael G. KirbyMarch 26, 1981RS1

Government regulation of an increasing level of economic activity has become a feature of modern...

The Profit Motive
Antony FlewSeptember 26, 1980OP3

This paper is published as a contribution to the debate on economic and social issues...

Rent Control: Costs and Consequences
Robert AlbonSeptember 1, 1980R2

Most of the essays in Rent Control: Costs & Consequences have been written especially for...

On Buying a Job: The Regulation of a Taxicab in Canberra
Peter Swan AODecember 12, 1979PM1

Almost without exception, the licensing power is used to restrict the number of taxis to...

Trading Phobias: Governments, NGOs and Globalisation
Anne KruegerOctober 11, 2000The Australian Financial Review

  Almost any dispassionate analysis of the evolution of the world economy will find that...

Staying in the Dark on School Performance
Alison RichOctober 5, 2000The Sydney Morning Herald

There is a movement in Australian education for increased assessment and accountability. Assessment and reporting...

Stop Subsidising a Failure
August 9, 2000The Australian Financial Review

John Quiggin is a well- known microeconomic reform sceptic, and in these pages last week...

Building Prosperity
Wolfgang KasperNovember 30, 0001

In this special publication, Wolfgang Kasper reviews Australia’s economic development over the past two decades...

“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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