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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.

Social Welfare: The Changing Debate
David GreenMay 5, 1988OP20

The Centre for Independent Studies Social Welfare Program has commissioned studies by qualified economists and...

Restraining Leviathan: Small Government in Practice
Michael James, Hugh Collins, J.J. Pincus, Patrick Minford, Cliff Walsh, Peter Swan AO, A.J. Moran, Ian Harper, Wolfgang Kasper, Chris Trengove, Keith Trace, Peter Forsyth, Scott Prasser, John D. Craig, James Cox, Robin O'Hair, Geoffrey Brennan, George WintertonOctober 1, 1987PF6

Foreword This collection seeks to increase our understanding of the scope and opportunities we have...

Beyond the Current Pessimism
Ray BallAugust 5, 1987OP18

Professor Ray Ball gives a personal interpretation of the historical roots of Australia’s economic malaise....

Takeovers and Corporate Control: Towards a New Regulatory Environment
Peter DoddJuly 1, 1987PF5

In much economic and political discourse, the word ‘market’ is used in a very general...

Australian Takeovers: The Evidence 1972-1985
Peter Dodd, R.R Officer, Steven BishopApril 16, 1987PM12

 

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Corporate Control, Economic Efficiency and Shareholder Justice
Peter Dodd, R.R OfficerMay 18, 1986PM9

This book is an examination of the theoretical background and economics of the market for...

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...

Any time someone tries to get ahead in Australia, the govt taxes them to the hilt
Simon CowanJune 14, 2025CANBERRA TIMES

It must have been a surreal experience for some this week. The Prime Minister was...

Why the Liberal Party struggles to regain ground
Simon CowanMay 31, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
The Liberals need to learn some political lessons from the result, but a lot of...
Why Libs and Nats will get the Coalition band back together
Tom SwitzerMay 21, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
The parties have been riven by very real personal and ideological tensions before, and still...
Australian states reap billions from mining. This revenue is already at risk
Gene Tunny, Simon CowanMay 17, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
As the pressure to rapidly phase out fossil fuels increases, the states will face an...
This is not as much about Trump as it is about the failure of modern politics
Simon CowanMay 3, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
The simple reality is that major parties across the world need to start measuring their...
Donald Trump can’t bully Adam Smith
Tom SwitzerApril 29, 2025AFR

Nearly 40 years ago, during her transformative and market-driven prime ministership of the United Kingdom,...

CIS Occasional Interviews: Ricardo Lopez Murphy
September 13, 2011
Life Under Challenging Regimes: Argentina and Zimbabwe
August 30, 2011
Matt Ridley: The Rational Optimist book talk (with Q&A)
June 18, 2011
Q&A – Peter Saunders – Debunking the equality myth: A critique of ‘The Spirit Level’
June 15, 2011
Peter Saunders – Debunking the equality myth: A critique of ‘The Spirit Level’
June 10, 2011
Malcolm Turnbull discusses the NBN at CIS
May 19, 2011
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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