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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.

Harmacy: The Political Economy of Community Pharmacy in Australia
David GadielDecember 10, 2008PM89

The regulatory environment that governs community pharmacy has created one of Australia’s most protected industries....

CAPITAL XENOPHOBIA II
November 28, 2008

AUSTRALIA’S CAPITAL XENOPHOBIA—‘PLEASE EXPLAIN…’ As politicians reaffirm their commitment to free trade at the G20...

Capital Xenophobia II
Stephen KirchnerNovember 23, 2008PM88

It is now widely realised that unhindered international trade has been the engine of sustained...

Million Dollar Babies: Paid Parental Leave and Family Policy Reform
November 18, 2008IA102

In February 2008, the federal government asked the Productivity Commission to recommend a national paid...

Bubble, toil and trouble
Stephen KirchnerNovember 12, 2008The Australian

In December 1996, then US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan famously mused ‘how do we...

Car subsidies blow good money out the exhaust
Stephen KirchnerNovember 11, 2008Sydney Morning Herald

The only good thing to come out of the government’s New Car Plan is the...

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...

Superannuation policies must not crimp saving
Terrence O’Brien, Robert CarlingMarch 21, 2021Canberra Times

The Morrison government is close to deciding whether to pick another political fight by cancelling,...

Retirement review’s misleading figures
Terrence O’BrienMarch 19, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

The Retirement Income Review (RIR) conclusions are based heavily on the assertion of a $40...

Housing cost is supply and demand
Peter TulipMarch 19, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

A common objection to the idea that planning restrictions make housing unaffordable is that some...

Opening up — not shuttering — markets will drive Australia’s post-COVID 19 recovery
Joanne TranMarch 15, 2021Spectator

Opening up — not shuttering — markets will drive Australia’s post-COVID 19 recovery. Despite this,...

Open economy for recovery
Joanne TranMarch 12, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

Opening up — not shuttering — markets will drive Australia’s post-COVID 19 recovery. Despite this,...

Improving aged care doesn’t justify tax
Robert CarlingMarch 5, 2021Ideas@TheCentre

The report of the Royal Commission into aged care released this week has already been...

“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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