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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.

The Case Against the Arbitration Commission
P.P. McGuinnessApril 26, 1985OP11

The Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission is the main obstacle to much-needed reform of industrial...

Capital Xenophobia: Australia’s Controls of Foreign Investment
Wolfgang KasperDecember 18, 1984PM6

An early study by the CIS which supported the lifting of controls on foreign investment...

Changes in the Air? Issues in Domestic Aviation Policy
Christopher Findlay, Michael G. Kirby, Frank Gallagher, P. J. Forsyth, David Starkie, Margaret Starrs, Colin GannonDecember 1, 1984PF3

The US Airlines Deregulation Act of 1978 and the prior de facto deregulation accomplished by...

The Role of the Entrepreneur in the Economic System
Israel KirznerNovember 25, 1984OP10

In the Inaugural John Bonython lecture, Israel Kirzner strongly defends the entrepreneur’s role in keeping...

Occupational Regulation and the Public Interest
Robert Albon, Greg LindsayMarch 1, 1984R5

Restrictions on entry into a profession or occupation raise the incomes of practitioners by limiting...

Democracy in Crisis
Michael JensenOctober 5, 1983OP8

Is there are conflict between unlimited political democracy and a Market economy? Michael C. Jensen...

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...

Superannuation reform score: maths 1, good intentions 0
Matthew O’DonnellJune 1, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

The Productivity Commission wants to help Australians get a better return from superannuation, but unfortunately...

Personal responsibility, not regulation, will fix rogue banks
Simon CowanMay 26, 2018The Sydney Morning Herald

A clear narrative is emerging from the Banking Royal Commission that the banking industry’s only...

Costello’s rare gift for lucidity
Eugenie JosephMay 18, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

An enthusiastic audience braved Monday’s morning chill this week for a CIS breakfast with former...

Tax cuts story may be overwhelmed
Simon CowanMay 12, 2018Canberra Times

It seems the fate of the Abbott/Turnbull Coalition governments to have an uphill fight selling...

If you’re not Santa, don’t sell it like you’re stuffing stockings
Eugenie JosephMay 11, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

While the government insists it’s not Santa when it comes to the Budget, the usual...

Tax and cut – the modern oxymoron
Matthew O’DonnellMay 11, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

This week’s newspapers have been ablaze with headlines rejoicing at the government’s announcement of tax...

“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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