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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.

Reflections on Privatisation
Roderick DeaneMarch 3, 1991OP32

Although privatisation of state-owned enterprises made great progress in New Zealand and elsewhere throughout the...

Economics 91
Tim RileyDecember 21, 1990SP1991

The ECONOMICS ’91 Conference served two purposes. First, it attempted to break down state barriers...

The Inequity of ‘Pay Equity’. Comparable worth policy in New Zealand
Penelope J BrookAugust 1, 1990NZPP1

In New Zealand as in many other Western countries, pressure for women’s groups has increased...

Do We Need a Reserve Bank?
Lawrence White, Chris Jones, Bryce WilkinsonJuly 1, 1990PF9

There is much dissatisfaction with the performance of central banks because they have a poor...

Population Growth: Curse or Blessing?
Peter T. BauerMay 7, 1990OP28

Population growth is widely regarded as self-evidently a cause of poverty and backwardness in Third...

Socialism Is Dead But Leviathan Lives On
James M. BuchananMay 3, 1990OP30

In the seventh John Bonython Lecture, James Buchanan observes that the death of socialism has...

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...

Drowning in a Sea of Diagnoses. How medicalising distress is overwhelming Australia’s mental health system and failing those most in need
Steven SchwartzFebruary 12, 2026AP100

Executive Summary At the centre of Australia’s mental health system lies a paradox. Government...

Students are starting school online this week – only to face a Ruddy mess
Glenn FaheyApril 14, 2020Spectator

Nobody could have predicted the demands of this year’s schooling transformation, but we could —...

The Koronavirus Keystone Kops threaten our health and our liberty
Robert CarlingApril 14, 2020Spectator

In the space of just a few weeks, the rule of law in Australia has...

Have we given up our individual freedoms too easily?
Simon CowanApril 11, 2020Canberra Times

When a learner driver is fined more than $1650 for “non-essential travel” by going for...

Wait until we emerge from shelter – and see the economic damage done
Robert CarlingApril 9, 2020Spectator

If we think of coronavirus as a severe tropical cyclone, when it passes and we...

Coronavirus: Road map needed for getting back to work
Salvatore BabonesApril 3, 2020The Australian

We all hope social distancing is saving lives, but there is no doubt that it...

Tom Switzer - Executive Director Centre for Independent Studies
Note from Tom Switzer
Tom SwitzerApril 2, 2020Ideas@TheCentre

We’re only a few weeks into the coronavirus crisis, and already our intellectual opponents are...

“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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