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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.

The Condensed Wealth of Nations and The Incredibly Condensed Theory of Moral Sentiments
Eamonn ButlerJune 12, 2012OP126

Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations is one of the most important books ever written....

Regulation or Strangulation? Banking After the Global Financial Crisis
Ian Harper, Robert CarlingJune 12, 2012PF23

Rightly or wrongly, inadequate regulation of finance has taken much of the blame for the...

Faraway, So Close: How the Euro Crisis Affects Australia
Oliver Marc HartwichApril 23, 2012IA132

Europe’s economic crisis has been shaking financial markets for the past three years. Countries like...

Overcoming a Culture of Low Expectations
March 28, 2012IA131

The most important thing we can do to encourage disadvantaged Australians into work – including...

Flight of the Kiwi: Addressing the Brain Drain
Andrew Patterson, David Kirk, Don Turkington, Luke MalpassMarch 27, 2012PF22

In early 2009, the NZ government established the 2025 Taskforce to provide recommendations on closing...

The Henry Tax Review: A Liberal Critique
March 14, 2012IA130

The public release of Australia’s Future Tax System—known as the Henry review—in May 2010 sparked...

SUPER WARS
Productivity Commission piles in to Labor’s schizophrenic war on big business
Michael StutchburyNovember 7, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Industry Minister Tim Ayres rightly says that Australia is in competition for global capital as...

The hard truth: why the government should let this smelter fail
Simon CowanNovember 1, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
If Tomago meets the criteria for a taxpayer bailout, then so do thousands of other...
Here’s how to fix poverty without taxing the rest of us more
Simon CowanOctober 18, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
The fact is, the more tightly assistance is targeted at those in need, the lower...
Pump the brakes, Hastie. Let me explain how wrong you’ve gotten it
Simon CowanOctober 3, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
In reality, it was taxpayers and consumers who were being held hostage: by government who...
Keep raiding our super and you’ll only create a smaller, meaner country
Simon CowanSeptember 20, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
Rumours are swirling that the government may reconsider its superannuation tax changes that will hit...
Australia’s housing push is bipartisan
Peter TulipSeptember 17, 2025SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE
The Liberal party has two traditions, conservatism and support for free markets. Normally, those movements...
“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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