Finance, Banking, Monetary Systems
Our research explains and advocates why a sound financial and monetary system is critical for economic prosperity.
Publications
The Major Bank Levy: We’re all going to be hit
Michael Potter
19 June 2017 | RR29
The major bank levy was proposed in the 2017–18 Budget. The levy has numerous flaws including: The costs of the levy will likely be passed on as higher interest rates for mortgages and business loans, harming households and business investment which is very weak. The…
Principles and recommendations for tax reform - CIS submission National Reform Summit
Simon Cowan, Robert Carling, Henry Ergas
27 August 2015 | CIS Submission
The slant towards cutting taxes before 2010 was welcome, but for such an approach to return in the foreseeable future, the growth of government spending will have to be curbed and the size of government as a share of GDP reduced. Although tax reform may…
Submission to the National Commission of Audit
Alexander Philipatos, Jennifer Buckingham, Jeremy Sammut, Robert Carling, Simon Cowan, Stephen Kirchner, Trisha Jha
01 April 2014 | T30.08
The federal government’s Commission of Audit (CoA) was established in 2013 to review the performance and role of government. This publication is an edited version of the CIS submission to the CoA listing practical solutions aimed at cutting government expenditure. The government should adopt a…
TARGET30: Reducing the burden for future generations
David Murray, Maurice Newman, Simon Cowan
01 July 2013 | PF25
TARGET30 is a campaign promoting smaller government and cutting government spending to less than 30% of GDP in the next 10 years. This collection of speeches presented at the campaign’s launch focuses on ensuring that the crucial services Australians need are delivered efficiently and effectively…
Australia’s Future Fiscal Shock
Robert Carling
28 September 2012 | IA134
Australia’s Future Fiscal Shock. Robert Carling is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies.
Media & Commentary
Why have a superannuation system?
Simon Cowan
06 April 2018 | Ideas@TheCentre
Why have a superannuation system at all? It’s a question never asked during debates over changes to super, including Labor’s recent proposed changes to franking credits — an issue that…
Private sector will build Indigenous construction industry
Charles Jacobs
02 March 2018 | Ideas@TheCentre
The government’s new $20 million program to help Indigenous construction businesses stump up the hefty bonds often required to guarantee project delivery creates a significant dilemma. While the announcement is…
Higher minimum wage will lower economic health
Sarah Ray
16 February 2018 | Ideas@TheCentre
Bill Shorten’s proposal to permanently link the minimum wage rate to 60% of the median wage, creating a so-called ‘living wage’, is a desperate appeal to low-income earners, working families…
Royal commission will be in vain
Robert Carling
01 December 2017 | IDEAS@THECENTRE
Banking Royal Commission may turn out to be not only the first to be deemed unnecessary by the government establishing it, but also the first to find very little at…
Free market strategy to solve societal problems
Josephine Cashman
20 October 2017 | Ideas@TheCentre
People seem to have lost faith in both the free market and in government. Capitalism and investing are now pejorative terms, while the government is increasingly seen as unable to…