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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.

A Voluntary Free Trade Alliance: How to Overcome Hurdles in the Path of Traders and Investors
Wolfgang KasperSeptember 9, 2004IA52

This paper outlines and endorses a new initiative for a Global Free Trade Alliance that...

Only 18%? Why ACOSS is Wrong to be Complacent about Welfare Dependency
Peter SaundersSeptember 2, 2004IA51

A new report from the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) recognises that welfare dependency...

A workable way out of the welfare trap
Lawrence MeadAugust 18, 2004The Australian

IN the past decade, the US reduced its welfare rolls by more than 60 per...

Will You Still Vote for Me in the Morning? Why Politicians Aren’t Rushing to Increase Taxes
Andrew NortonJuly 16, 2004PM65

Despite repeated claims by advocates of big government that Australia is a ‘low tax country,’...

Who Pays the Lion’s Share of Personal Income Tax?
Sinclair DavidsonJuly 13, 2004PM63

Davidson’s paper performs a service by exposing the absurdities of some of the claims that...

Motherhood as a meal ticket
Barry Maley, Peter SaundersJuly 1, 2004The Australian

Most people believe new mothers should have the opportunity to spend time at home with...

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...

Perils of the new Keynesians
Tom SwitzerNovember 8, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

This week’s weak retail figures add momentum to the emerging intellectual consensus: that in order...

Fix super first
Simon CowanNovember 1, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

At the end of last month, the government announced yet another retirement incomes review. That...

Keating finds his inner Keynes
Tom SwitzerOctober 31, 2019Financial Review

One measure of Australia’s much-changed economic policy debate is that Paul Keating – architect of...

To fix retirement incomes, let’s start with reining in superannuation
Simon CowanOctober 28, 2019The Canberra Times

At the end of last month, the government announced yet another retirement incomes review. That...

Truth is, not all tax cuts are created equal
John HumphreysOctober 27, 2019The Canberra Times

TREASURY’S flawed tax model has caused the government to underestimate the benefits and overestimate the...

Canberra needs to discover ‘secret’ tax cuts bonus
John HumphreysOctober 25, 2019The Australian

Australia’s tax debate needs a reset. The government’s recent tax reform is to be commended...

“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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