Research Library

Public safety accounts for a significant share of city budgets, but compensation costs vary widely. A new working paper by Sara Davidson, Bill King, and John W. Diamond for the Center for Tax and Budget Policy surveys municipal employee compensation across Texas’ five largest cities.

In a new commentary for Communications, Moshe Y. Vardi examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the computing profession, arguing that the field must reconsider its scientific, educational, and professional priorities as it enters a new era.

Introduction

CEO compensation at nonprofit hospitals across the United States has increased substantially in recent years…

In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” Ambassador David M. Satterfield speaks with Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar about the Iran war, discussing how one pivotal week may have reshaped Iran’s strategy, elevated the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, and altered the trajectory of the conflict.

In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Abhi Rajendran and Skip York explore what the oil market’s response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz reveals about the shifting foundations of global oil.

Harris County faces growing budgetary headwinds that demand clearer financial disclosure. A new Center for Tax and Budget Policy report by Bill King, Joyce Beebe, John W. Diamond, and Randall Rice explores how improvements to the budgeting process could strengthen transparency and support long-term fiscal planning.

Six years after taking power, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said has overseen economic reform in Oman while maintaining its role as an international mediator. In a new brief for the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East, Annelle Sheline analyzes the country’s transformation.

Can foreign assistance strengthen influence, counter strategic competitors, secure allies, or build markets? Drawing on interviews with senior national security practitioners and a review of the evidence, Victoria Jupp and Sonali Korde move beyond the question of whether foreign assistance works to identify which investments generate the greatest returns for U.S. national security and economic interests — and under what conditions.

In this episode of “The Two-Handed Economist,” John W. Diamond and Bill King discuss the 2026 Social Security Trust Fund report, examining the program’s long-term financial outlook, the history of past reforms, and policy options for addressing demographic and fiscal challenges.

In 2025, Kuwait announced significant plans to expand energy production and investment; however, institutional barriers may complicate implementation. In this Middle East Energy Roundtable report, Zalma Tohow, Ana Martín Gil, Jim Krane, and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen analyze legal and regulatory challenges and offer strategic recommendations for advancing Kuwait's energy objectives.