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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.

John Kehoe Image
Canberra’s fiscal ticking bomb
John Kehoe, Tom SwitzerFebruary 15, 2024
Join us on March 13 for a breakfast conversation with John Kehoe, exploring the challenges...
Jim Chalmers. treasurer, economics, tax, stage three tax cuts
Chalmers is doing a fantastic job … at ignoring the dire outlook
Tom SwitzerFebruary 13, 2024SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Chalmers is doing a fantastic job … at ignoring the dire outlook. We are only...

Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into improving consumer experiences, choice, and outcomes in Australia’s retirement system.
Peter TulipFebruary 12, 2024
Allowing first home buyers to borrow from their superannuation would transform superannuation from an obstacle...
Tax surrender
Labor’s tax backflip all the easier against an opposition with no spine
Simon CowanFebruary 10, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

Labor’s tax backflip all the easier against an opposition with no spine. This week’s news...

Major tax reform needed to overcome bracket creep
Robert CarlingFebruary 8, 2024DAILY TELEGRAPH

Major tax reform needed to overcome bracket creep. The Albanese government’s backflip over the shape...

Housing Affordability and Supply Restrictions
Peter TulipFebruary 8, 2024PP55
This paper describes the evidence of large effects of planning restrictions on housing affordability. This...
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...

Davos deserts economics
Glenn FaheyJanuary 31, 2020Ideas@TheCentre

Despite global economic headwinds, international institutions — often with exclusively economic missions —are increasingly sliding...

Sport grants always political
Simon CowanJanuary 24, 2020Ideas@TheCentre

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has revealed that the federal government handed out tens...

Is anyone really shocked by Sports Rorts 2.0?
Simon CowanJanuary 18, 2020Canberra Times

The Australian National Audit Office has revealed that the federal government handed out tens of...

The 2020s: the new age of profligacy
Robert CarlingJanuary 6, 2020Spectator

Fiscal profligacy is breaking out all over. Australia is an exception, but many other countries...

PM must rouse indolent nation
Tom SwitzerDecember 9, 2019Australian Financial Review

After another year of political high drama, there are massive anxieties about the state of...

It’s productivity that needs the stimulus
Robert CarlingDecember 6, 2019ideas@theCentre

The September quarter national accounts released by the Bureau of Statistics this week provided no...

“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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