Recent publications in Occasional Paper
State Business Tax Calculator - Fact Sheets - 2009
The IPA State Business Tax Calculator (SBTC) is a quantitative model that measures the tax imposed on business by state governments. The latest information on tax rates and structures (as at 31 December 2009) are used to calculate tax liabilities.
Business Bearing the Burden 2009
The IPA State Business Tax Calculator calculates the level of state government taxes on business in each of the six Australian states. The IPA analysis reveals: South Australia has the highest taxes on business, while Western Australia has the...
Costly, ineffectual and protectionist carbon tariffs
Many developed country governments are in the process of negotiating for the introduction of carbon price signals to incentivise business and consumers to reduce their carbon footprint. Individual European countries and the European Union already...
The moral value of free markets
Speech from the launch of Richard Morgan's Lessons From The Global Financial Crisis: The Relevance of Adam Smith on Morality and Free Markets. We are here today to launch Richard Morgan's book, a book that applies 18th century wisdom to current...
Palming off livelihoods? The misguided campaign against palm oil
Internationally environmental non-government organisations and activists are campaigning against industry and consumer use of palm oil. Their opposition to is driven by claims that it is unsustainable promotes deforestation and reduces orang-utan...
No Longer Us versus Them
No Longer Us versus Them is a timely research paper that exposes the myths perpetuated by vested interests and populist politicians who argue for protection for domestic jobs, to the detriment of us all.
A growing risk: The impacts and consequences of rising state government employment
The greatest increase in total state public sector staffing has been in the area of government administration. There is also evidence of growth in ‘back office' staff in the key service delivery areas of education, health and policing.
How much do we actually spend on early childhood?
International comparisons of public spending data are ubiquitous in economics. But what do such exercises actually tell us? When performed correctly by economists, international comparisons can often provide useful information and insights into...
Tax Cuts Not Stimulus Spending
Over the course of the 2008-09 financial year the Australian Government took a series of significant fiscal policy decisions which were designed to act as an economic stimulus. This paper asks the following simple hypothetical question: if those...
122 ways towards a Nanny State
The Preventative Health Taskforce released its report on 1 September 2009. With 122 recommendations, it provides a blueprint for the Nanny State in Australia. New laws 1. Food and beverages classification 2. Junk food if self-regulation fails 3....