Become a Member Donate Now

• 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.

Threshold issues for a tax system that creates jobs
Peter SaundersNovember 30, 2001The Australian Financial Review

An important debate is taking place in Australia about the future of welfare, taxation and...

A tax credit system should be the basis for funding education
Jennifer Buckingham OAMOctober 20, 2001The Australian Financial Review

There is not much for parents or schools to get excited about in the education...

Modern perils in a lucky country
Jennifer Buckingham OAMAugust 31, 2001The Daily Telegraph

What is the state of our nation? For the most part, Australians are better off...

Equity and the costs of learning
Jennifer Buckingham OAMAugust 31, 2001The Daily Telegraph

Once again the knives have come out over school funding. But what is the real...

Taxing the family : Australia’s forgotten people in the income spectrum
Lucy SullivanAugust 22, 2001PM50

Over the last two decades, the tax burden has shifted from taxpayers without to taxpayers...

Knowledge is a costly affair
July 3, 2001The Australian Financial Review

The Knowledge Nation Taskforce’s comprehensive agenda for upskilling Australia was widely welcomed yesterday. But the...

A Future Without Future Funds
Dimitri BurshteinAugust 10, 2023PP52

In 1984, Milton Friedman reminded us that “there is nothing so permanent as a temporary...

scales
Superannuation tax: Why the total balance threshold should be shelved
Robert CarlingJuly 13, 2023PP51
This paper is a further developed version of the author’s submission to the Treasury consultation...
Cohort of losers: generational burden of government Covid response
Gigi FosterJune 13, 2023AP49
In the Covid era, many policies were defended on the basis that they would help...
Markets & Prosperity
A new pathway to prosperity
Tom SwitzerJune 1, 2023CONNOR COURT

Tom Switzer’s chapter contribution, “A new pathway to prosperity,” in Harry Stutchbury’s (edited) Markets &...

Lessons for liberals from the Anglosphere
Tom SwitzerJune 1, 2023CONNOR COURT

Tom Switzer’s chapter contribution, “Lessons for liberals from the Anglosphere,” in David Steven’s (edited) Dignity...

The ‘national conversation’ on budgets, spending and tax
Robert CarlingMarch 23, 2023PP49
There is a wide-ranging agenda of issues to which this paper aims to make a...
The mental health system may be making us sicker
Steven SchwartzApril 6, 2026CANBERRA TIMES

Australia has a mental health crisis, but not the one we think. Despite decades of...

Housing negative gearing tax
Reducing the discount would likely not have any lasting impact in lowering house prices
Robert Carling, Michael StutchburyMarch 21, 2026CANBERRA TIMES

Anyone watching the smoke signals from Canberra knows that moves are afoot to try and...

Alarm bells ringing on more interest rate pain
Michael StutchburyMarch 18, 2026DAILY TELEGRAPH
Australians were losing faith that the combination of Labor’s economic policies and the RBA monetary...
Labor’s capital gains tax myths need busting
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2026DAILY TELEGRAPH

Labor has long held an axe over the capital gains tax 50% discount and negative...

Measuring affordability in time, not dollars paints a different inflation picture
Marian L. TupyMarch 9, 2026CANBERRA TIMES

Even before new Middle East conflict sparked concern about petrol prices, Australia’s latest CPI release...

Blame diagnostic inflation for the NDIS’ $10b Autism bill
Steven SchwartzMarch 5, 2026AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

As recently reported in The Australian Financial Review, autism costs the National Disability Insurance Scheme...

The simple solution to FIX the housing crisis | Emilie Dye
Emilie Dye, Randall EvansSeptember 18, 2024

What is behind the housing crisis in Australia and across the world? Research Analyst Emilie...

How to tackle Australia’s housing crisis one state at a time | NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey
Simon CowanAugust 29, 2024

Sydney is home to some of the least affordable housing in the world, placing immense...

Has Easy Money Destroyed the Free Market? | Ruchir Sharma
Tom Switzer, Randall EvansAugust 26, 2024

Watch as Tom Switzer sits down with renowned financial analyst, commentator, and investor Ruchir Sharma...

Support CIS Research in 2024
Tom SwitzerJune 12, 2024

Donate or become a member below! Donate Today

...
The NDIS is out of control | John Kehoe
John Kehoe, Tom SwitzerApril 9, 2024

The Australian economy has performed better than most economists predicted a year ago. However, probe...

Will economic growth destroy the planet?
Gene Tunny, Randall EvansJanuary 29, 2024

Will economic growth destroy the planet? The debate over whether economic growth will ultimately lead...

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,...
No Podcasts Available

• Subscribe

Subscribe now and stay in the loop with our giving appeals, event alerts, newsletters and research updates.

We are always pleased to hear from you. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us here:

+61 2 9438 4377
CIS Office
cis@cis.org.au
CIS Media
kpincott@cis.org.au