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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 TunnyNovember 29, 2023

On Tuesday, 26 September CIS hosted a special evening featuring Professor John Cochrane for a...

The Stealth Tax
Matthew Taylor, Karla PincottNovember 28, 2023Liberalism in Question

Bracket creep chips away at living standards, especially those of younger generations, a new Issue...

infrastructure, building, blowout, tax
Bungles, Blowouts and Boondoggles: why Australia’s infrastructure projects cost more than they should
Grahame CampbellNovember 23, 2023OP198
A large amount of taxpayers’ money, state and federal, is expended on large scale infrastructure...
Emergency health medical
Superannuation is pointless if it isn’t boosting living standards
Simon CowanNovember 18, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

The government seems to be moving closer to a policy of using superannuation savings to...

If everything was working out for everyone it would be a Miracle! Marian Tupy | Fraser Nelson
Fraser Nelson, Marian Tupy, Tom SwitzerNovember 10, 2023

This special event featured Marian Tupy and Fraser Nelson in a thought-provoking conversation, led by...

bracket creep
Bracket creep hits young Australians hardest
Matthew Taylor, Emilie DyeNovember 9, 2023IA148
For those on lower incomes, even a small increase in nominal income leads to a...
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...

‘Reasonable person’ test of virus response
Salvatore BabonesJune 4, 2020Ideas@theCentre

We can’t blame our leaders for being caught off-guard by the coronavirus; we all were....

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...

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...

Tom Switzer - Executive Director Centre for Independent Studies (CIS)
Urgent case for reform
Tom SwitzerMay 21, 2020IDEAS@THECENTRE

For more than two months, federal and state governments have shut down much of Australia’s...

“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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