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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.

Economics 92
Tim RileyApril 9, 1992SP1992

This is the second book in a series which records the proceedings of a National...

Wages and Welfare: the failing symbiosis
P.A. McGavinFebruary 1, 1992PM21

Labour-market regulations and welfare programs are significant features of Australia’s economic and social fabric. Many...

Economic 92
Tim RileyDecember 21, 1991SP1992
Liberating Labour: The Case for Freedom of Contract in Labour Relations
Michael JamesAugust 5, 1991OP36

Although the case against centralised wage-fixing has won increasing support in recent years, many reservations...

Dismantling Socialism: A Preliminary Report
Vaclav KlausAugust 5, 1991OP35

In the eighth John Bonython Lecture, Václav Klaus, Finance Minister of Czechoslovakia, gives an account...

Contestable Funding: A New Deal for Research and Development in New Zealand
Veronica JacobsenJuly 1, 1991PM19

One of the first substantive measures of public sector reform undertaken by the 1984-1990 Labour...

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...

When buying votes replaces selling policies
Robert CarlingSeptember 12, 2018Australian Financial Review

The Morrison government’s decision not to lift the pension age above 67 is the last...

The inequality storm in a teacup
Robert CarlingSeptember 12, 2018The Spectator

The idea that economic inequality is a problem — and an increasing one — demanding...

Buying votes easier than selling good policies
Robert CarlingSeptember 7, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

Does the nature of a democracy change when an increasing majority of its voters receive...

No basis in bias science
Monica WilkieSeptember 7, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

News that the Australian Taxation Office has been running unconscious bias training (UBT) courses raises...

It’s easier to buy votes than sell policies
Robert CarlingSeptember 6, 2018The Spectator Australia

What do Scott Morrison and Vladimir Putin have in common? For one thing, they’ve both...

Inequality isn’t Australia’s issue – poverty should be our focus
Simon CowanSeptember 1, 2018The Sydney Morning Herald

Purveyors of doom were dealt a blow this week when the Productivity Commission neatly punctured...

“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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