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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.

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,...

‘More affordable housing’ actually makes a large cohort of voters very angry
Simon CowanApril 19, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
Actual solutions would involve negotiating with state and local government to change the policy settings...
Housing negative gearing tax
The $5b move that could smash house prices
Peter TulipApril 15, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
The housing policy promises from the major parties both offer assistance for housing supply, but...
The only thing America liberated itself from was prosperity
Simon CowanApril 5, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
For a policy that is being promoted as good for US businesses, it sure seems...
Old pastime of redistribution, regulation, reckless spending returns
Tom SwitzerMarch 31, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
If you’re wondering why this election campaign does not have a clear frontrunner, the lack...
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...

Why not an obesity tax, rather than a sugar tax?
Matthew O’DonnellJanuary 16, 2018THE SPECTATOR: FLAT WHITE

Once upon a time, New Year’s resolutions were the purview of the individual. You made...

Championing a free and prosperous future
Tom SwitzerJanuary 12, 2018CIS

From Australia to America to Europe, the voices against free markets, small government and individual...

Revenue sharing is not responsibility
Robert CarlingJanuary 11, 2018THE SPECTATOR: FLAT WHITE

  The Queensland government submission to the Productivity Commission review of GST distribution suggests the...

Will Turnbull be the magician of GST reform?
Robert CarlingJanuary 3, 2018THE SPECTATOR - FLAT WHITE

  Reforming the system of GST distribution among the states (‘horizontal fiscal equalisation’, or HFE)...

Robot truck drivers shape up as a heavy load
Tom SwitzerJanuary 1, 2018SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

The robots are coming to the rescue. So screamed a headline about artificial intelligence. The...

Australia’s political winners and losers of a year of uncertainty
Simon CowanDecember 23, 2017CANBERRA TIMES

As 2017 began with the resignation of a Cabinet Minister, you would have been forgiven...

“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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