Research Library

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.

Houston’s tax increment reinvestment zones (TIRZs) were legislated to help finance the economic and infrastructural development for the city‘s most underfunded areas; however, TIRZs can have had the opposite effect. A new issue brief by experts from the Center for Public Finance examines the regressive impact of TIRZs through geographic and census data, finding that TIRZs primarily benefit wealthier neighborhoods and higher-income Houstonians.

Texas lags behind other states in generating business-funded research and development (R&D) expenditures, which are crucial for supporting long-term economic growth and competitiveness. John W. Diamond’s new working paper outlines how Texas can boost R&D tax incentives without causing fiscal challenges and how these tax credits could benefit the state’s economy, locally and statewide.

The Supreme Court cannot tackle the challenge of free speech on social media alone; the public must also step up and advocate for meaningful reforms to U.S. social media policies.

Raising the purchasing age for semiautomatic rifles to age 21 years in Texas has the potential to save lives while preserving firearm ownership for the majority of the population.

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

A globally equitable energy transition that addresses social and economic disparities may seem unlikely at the moment, but international cooperation on energy policies is achievable. In a new working paper, visiting research scholar Osamah Alsayegh outlines the complex challenges facing a just energy transition and provides policy recommendations focused on promoting international collaboration and transparency.

Recently proposed federal legislation would require the Texas electrical grid to connect to the Eastern and Western Interconnections. While connecting the Texas grid may offer more power to the state and beyond, it would not eliminate the state’s energy reliability, connectivity, or outage concerns. Thus, policymakers should shift their focus to funding a thorough, practical study of all the issues involved in Texas grid integration, writes nonresident scholar Julie A. Cohn.

Matt Drwenski discusses the history of freeway planning in Houston, Texas — from its origins in the early 20th century to the completion of the city’s urban highway system.

By prioritizing energy transition speed over economic stability, Germany’s recent energy policies have resulted in persistent economic underperformance, the fear of growing industrial weakness, and potential political instability. Germany’s current economic status offers valuable lessons for the United States’ and other countries’ approaches to renewable energy adoption, writes Ted Loch-Temzelides.