The Centre for International Economics

What The Centre for International Economics does

The Centre for International Economics (CIE) is a privately held Australian boutique economic consultancy founded in 1990 and headquartered in Canberra with a secondary office in Sydney. The firm provides independent, quantitative, evidence-based policy and economic advice to federal and state government agencies, industry associations, and private-sector clients. It is structured around six principals covering complementary practice areas — infrastructure, transport and land use; health, education and social services; research and development; urban and rural water; resource recovery and waste; natural resources and environment; climate change and adaptation; pricing and economic regulation; agriculture; and trade and investment.

CIE's core deliverable is commissioned research built on sophisticated quantitative tools, including general equilibrium models, cost-benefit analysis frameworks incorporating economic, environmental and social costs, econometric models, simulation modelling, and GIS-based spatial analysis (using MapInfo). Notable technical specialisations include stated-preference research and discrete choice experiments — the firm has fielded large household surveys such as a 6,000-respondent study for Infrastructure Victoria and a 721-household tariff study for Evoenergy — that produce proprietary valuation datasets used across engagements.

The firm operates a professional services revenue model: project-based, fee-for-service engagements procured directly through government tender processes, industry association commissions, or private mandates. With roughly six principals, around twenty professional staff, and up to six specialist associates engaged as needed, the firm is small and principal-led, with senior economists personally scoping, modelling, and presenting findings. Go-to-market is direct, relying on a publications archive, staff profiles, and word-of-mouth within Australian policy circles rather than traditional marketing. Named engagements include the NDIS Review (jointly with Taylor Fry), Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year strategy, work for Evoenergy, Mito Foundation, Family and Relationship Services Australia, Prospa, and the VCCC Alliance.

Name

The Centre for International Economics

Legal name

The Centre for International Economics

Website

https://thecie.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Centre for International Economics is an Australian boutique economic consultancy, founded in 1990 with offices in Canberra and Sydney, providing independent, quantitative, evidence-based policy advice and cost-benefit analysis to federal and state government agencies, industry associations, and private clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), Infrastructure & Project Finance Advisory (BPAHADAO)

Keywords

• Economic consulting services
• Policy advisory services
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Economic modelling
• Regulatory impact analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Economic Consulting Services: The CIE operates as a boutique economic consultancy providing independent, quantitative, evidence-based advice through commissioned research projects. They work with government agencies at all levels, industry associations, and private clients, applying sophisticated economic models and analysis to solve complex problems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Centre for International Economics is a boutique economic research and consulting firm that delivers commissioned, evidence-based policy analysis for government agencies, industry associations, and private clients. Core services include quantitative economic modelling, cost-benefit analysis, regulatory impact assessment, program evaluation, stated preference research, and sector-specific policy advice spanning infrastructure, health, environment, trade, water, and climate change.

Product overview

The Centre for International Economics (CIE) is a boutique economic consultancy firm that provides independent quantitative economic analysis and evidence-based policy advice. Rather than a software product platform, CIE delivers consulting services and published research reports to government agencies, industry associations, and private sector clients. Their work spans multiple practice areas including infrastructure economics, health economics, trade analysis, climate policy, and regulatory economics. Key deliverables include commissioned research reports, cost-benefit analyses, regulatory impact statements, and economic modeling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Consultancy Services A boutique economic consultancy providing independent, quantitative, evidence-based advice to support practical decision-making for government agencies, industry associations, and private clients. The umbrella offering through which the firm delivers its practice areas of infrastructure, transport and land use; health, education and social services; research and development; urban and rural water; resource recovery and waste; natural resources and environment; climate change and adaptation; pricing and economic regulation; agriculture; and trade and investment.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis Services Standalone cost-benefit analysis practice that incorporates all economic, environmental and social costs and benefits to inform complex policy decisions, regulatory impact analysis, program evaluation, and R&D impact evaluation for government and private clients.
• Stated Preference Research Services Specialist stated preference research offering, including choice modelling surveys, that helps governments and businesses understand the value people place on potential new products and services or changes in environmental outcomes and public services. Recent applications include surveys of over 6,000 Victorian households for Infrastructure Victoria and 721 ACT households for Evoenergy.
• Economic Modelling and Interactive Economic Tools Bespoke economic and financial modelling services including general equilibrium models, econometric and statistical models, simulation modelling, and GIS-based databases built using MapInfo. The firm produces interactive economic tools that enable clients to conduct scenario testing and sensitivity analysis, applied across infrastructure, transport, land use, water, waste, natural resources, climate, and trade engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Family Law Services return $7.85 in benefits for each dollar invested
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Taylor FrynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaylor Fry and The CIE jointly undertook analysis for the NDIS Review Secretariat, examining the costs and benefits of the NDIS and assisting with the development of a framework for measuring performance and outcomes.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ACIL Allen: Australian economics and policy consultancy providing applied economic analysis, cost-benefit studies, and regulatory/competition advice to government and private clients. Most direct boutique-scale peer to CIE in Australia with comparable sector breadth and policy focus.
• HoustonKemp: Specialist Australian economic consultancy focused on economic regulation, competition analysis, and infrastructure economics. Directly comparable to CIE's regulation and infrastructure economics practice areas and serves similar regulator and government clients.
• Nous Group: Australian management consultancy working across public policy, service design, and economic evaluation for federal and state government clients. Overlaps with CIE on policy-relevant evidence-based advisory engagements, particularly in social services and human services.
• Frontier Economics: International economics consultancy with a Sydney presence, focused on regulation, competition, and infrastructure economics. Closely comparable to CIE on cost-benefit analysis, regulatory economics, and quantitative policy advisory.
• Synergies Economic Consulting: Australian economic consultancy specializing in competition economics, economic regulation, and public policy analysis. Closely comparable to CIE in size, sector focus (infrastructure, energy, regulation), and government-client orientation.

Broad incumbents

• KPMG Australia (Economics and Infrastructure): KPMG's economics, infrastructure, and deal advisory practices provide economic modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluation services to Australian federal and state governments. Competes directly for the same pool of public-sector economic advisory mandates as CIE.
• PwC Australia (Economics and Policy): PwC's economics, health economics, and public sector management consulting practices offer quantitative economic analysis, regulatory impact assessment, and program evaluation across Australia. Closely comparable in service mix to CIE but embedded in a broader advisory and assurance firm with greater scale.
• Deloitte Access Economics: Australian economics practice within Deloitte, providing macro-economic forecasting, policy advisory, infrastructure evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis to government and private clients. Directly competes with CIE on economic-impact and public-sector advisory mandates, but operates with far larger headcount and as part of a global Big 4 firm.
• EY-Parthenon (Economic Advisory): EY's strategy and economic advisory practice delivers economic impact analysis, infrastructure appraisal, and policy evaluation globally including Australia. Competes with CIE on larger strategic-economic engagements and transaction-related advisory.

Regional players

• BDO Australia (Advisory): BDO's Australian advisory practice includes economic analysis, infrastructure advisory, and public sector consulting. Competes with CIE for mid-sized economic consulting mandates in Australia, though BDO's broader service portfolio dilutes focus on economic-only engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-international-economics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Centre for International Economics