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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.

State finances after the pandemic
Robert CarlingJune 4, 2020Ideas@theCentre

The coronavirus pandemic has drawn state government policies into the response to a national crisis...

A public servant pay freeze is just the first shot in a long war
Robert CarlingJune 2, 2020Sydney Morning Herald

The Berejiklian government’s one-year pay freeze for the NSW public sector has raised the ire...

Disarming the new Cold War
Alan DupontMay 28, 2020IDEAS@THECENTRE

The world’s two major powers are wrestling for strategic advantage in an increasingly bitter contest...

State Finances after the Pandemic
Robert CarlingMay 28, 2020PP29

The strength of Australia’s government finances is an important dimension of economic performance as it...

Dominic Perrotet: NSW After the Pandemic
Simon Cowan, Dominic PerrottetMay 25, 2020

Former New South Wales Treasurer and now Premier Dominic Perrottet joined CIS research director Simon...

Maintaining JobKeeper beyond the health crisis would be a serious mistake
Simon CowanMay 23, 2020Canberra Times

The government is wrong if it thought the pressure might die down a little bit...

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...

Commercialising highways
Robert W. PooleNovember 20, 2000

Most people consider the modern auto-highway system a great success. In the United States, automobiles...

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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