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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.

Research key to balancing pay equity with jobs growth
Ian HarperDecember 30, 2009The Age

The Australian Fair Pay Commission made its final decision on minimum wages in July, when...

The seasonal satisfaction index
Stephen KirchnerDecember 26, 2009Sydney Morning Herald

In 1993, the American Economic Review published an article by Joel Waldfogel called ‘The Deadweight...

We aren’t just larrikins
Oliver Marc HartwichDecember 24, 2009The Australian

That Australia is one of very few countries to survive the global economic crisis relatively...

Activists should stop talking about global warming and start acting
John HumphreysDecember 23, 2009The Sydney Morning Herald

If climate activists had spent the past 10 years acting instead of wasting time at...

Labour should not take its eyes off the target
Stephen KirchnerDecember 21, 2009The Dominion Post

When New Zealand introduced inflation targeting with the passage of the Reserve Bank of New...

What if you got pink bats and a school hall for Christmas?
Stephen KirchnerDecember 18, 2009

Economist Joel Waldfogel has for many years argued in favour less gift giving at Christmas....

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...

Here’s why forcing workers back to the office won’t have the desired effect
Simon CowanMarch 22, 2025CANBERRA TIMES

Working from home is sneakily becoming one of the biggest emerging fault-lines in our society....

Indexation would end the stealth tax of bracket creep 
Gene TunnyMarch 17, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
In Australia, bracket creep has become a silent but significant burden on taxpayers, eroding real...
Time to do away with this insidious tax hurting us all
Simon CowanMarch 8, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
Bracket creep is caused by the inflation and its interaction with our progressive tax system....
Are we prepared for the next pandemic?
Steven SchwartzFebruary 25, 2025SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE
Australia has taken steps to prepare for avian flu. But preparedness isn’t a one-time event....
Amid all the hype about DOGE, we should be watching closely
Simon CowanFebruary 22, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
We should all be very watchful, given what governments would get up to with our...
This is pure snake oil. And a diversion from policies that made our lives better
Robert Carling, Simon CowanFebruary 8, 2025THE CANBERRA TIMES

There was much sound and fury in Australia, and among our allies, when China introduced...

“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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