Research Library

Texas should invest in its public pre-K program to address pandemic losses and provide valuable high-quality early learning opportunities for eligible students.

Vaccines are one of the most successful and significant public health measures in the 20th century. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, they have become more politicized. A new Science and Technology Program report analyzes the vaccine-voting records of state legislators with health backgrounds, finding that party affiliation is a significant predictor of voting behavior.

The U.S. health care system is grappling with a severe labor shortage, worsened by the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an aging population. A new report from the Center for the U.S and Mexico offers recommendations to address the sector’s needs, including expanding visa availability, reforming occupational licensing, specializing recruitment, and streamlining the immigration process.

Both presidential candidates have endorsed a policy of no tax on tips. But would this approach really help the low-income workers it’s meant to support? Fellow Joyce Beebe reviews the current tax treatment of tip income, summarizing the main arguments against such a policy, potential impacts, and possible alternatives

Vaccines are a valuable, cost-effective public health tool to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It is vital that the next U.S. administration fosters innovation and expands vaccination programs to prevent outbreaks, save lives, reduce health care costs, and promote a healthier, more resilient society, write Rekha Lakshmanan and Kirstin R.W. Matthews.

Texas hospitals perform more reduced-cost care charity care than most of in the country, yet many eligible patients miss out on free or discounted care, leading to medical debt. This new brief examines how Texas nonprofit hospitals handle and report debt, as well as the necessary improvements currently manage and report bad debt and outlines how to address these gaps.

To continue competing with one of America’s largest trading partners, the new U.S. administration must monitor the Chinese government’s upcoming economic policy changes, regarding national security, science and technology exchange agreements, and tariffs, in order to ensure U.S. security and diplomacy, writes fellow Steven W. Lewis.

San Diego and Tijuana, key entry points at the U.S.-Mexico border, face challenges in meeting the needs of migrants arriving in their cities due to insufficient shelter capacity, infrastructure, and funding. Ana Martín Gil’s new report examines the cities’ differing migrant reception systems and approaches to collaborative efforts among international, federal, and local groups, while also providing policy recommendations to advance the development of an orderly and humane asylum system.

Gain-of-function research is an important tool in medicine and other areas that leads to new biotechnologies, therapies, and tools. Instead of banning it, existing oversight can be used to ensure its safety.

U.S. fiscal policy should focus on stabilizing the long-term budget outlook by supporting robust economic growth, broadening the tax base, and reducing federal spending. This new policy brief from John W. Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Public Finance outlines the issue and recommends policy actions.