Finance, Banking, Monetary Systems
Our research explains and advocates why a sound financial and monetary system is critical for economic prosperity.
Publications
I, Mechanical Pencil: Why a socialist economy can never work
Steven Kates
06 February 2019 | PP14
Socialism brings poverty and oppression. The ignorance of so many as to why only a market economy is capable of bringing prosperity and political freedom is a major problem. Too many believe a socialist utopia can be achieved if only the right people took the…
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…
Media & Commentary
Why Socialism always fails
Steven Kates
15 March 2019 | Spectator
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial Who’s Afraid of Socialism laid out the case that much of the US Democratic platform met the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of socialism. In particular,…
When ‘25% off’ is not enough
Robert Carling
08 March 2019 | Ideas@TheCentre
Labor’s plans for negative gearing and dividend franking credit refunds have stirred up a hornet’s nest of controversy, but the plan to increase capital gains tax (CGT) 50% by halving…
Principle vs revenue in dividend tax furore
Robert Carling
15 February 2019 | Ideas@TheCentre
The furore over dividend franking credit refunds is bringing out the worst in our politicians. The Coalition is running a parliamentary inquiry that has turned into an endless circus parade…
Neglect of young people a super problem
Eugenie Joseph
15 February 2019 | Ideas@TheCentre
Once again, politics in Canberra has triumphed over good policy — with young Australians the latest casualty. To pass its superannuation reform package through the Senate, the government on Thursday abandoned…
Bank culture must be built on moral fibre
Eugenie Joseph
10 February 2019 | The Newcastle Herald
Treating your customers fairly can’t just be a legal obligation, it must become a moral imperative ingrained in a bank’s culture. This is a key take-away from the Hayne Commission’s…