Research Library

Energy transitions also connect to developments in natural gas and oil markets, both of which still receive significant attention from policymakers. Steven R. Miles explains that despite numerous challenges, global reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) has continued to expand. Thus, future trends will be shaped by trade dynamics, geopolitical factors, regulations, and U.S. policies. LNG is important for the global energy balance, and increasing demand for natural gas means the long-term outlook for U.S. LNG exports remains bright, despite the recent LNG permitting pause by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Mahmoud A. El-Gamal discusses the importance of U.S. monetary policy changes and oil markets. He highlights the relationships among interest rate movements, the behavior of traders, and oil price formation to argue the importance of watching Federal Reserve actions when analyzing the market for oil.

Rachel A. Meidl discusses why sustainability requires an approach that includes environmental, social, and economic factors across the entire supply chain spanning the life cycle of energy systems. Sustainability must move beyond a narrow focus on carbon metrics to address broader impacts and drive innovation. As companies emphasize sustainability imperatives, life cycle management will become increasingly important.

The EU’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty may foreshadow an eventual end to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDI) — a legal mechanism that permits foreign investors to sue a country over actions that harm their investments. A report by fellow David A. Gantz outlines the history of ISDI provisions in global trade agreements and examines what ISDI’s end might mean for the future of investment and trade in the U.S., EU, and other nations.

Addressing non-medical drivers of health (NMDOH) is crucial to improving health outcomes and containing health care costs. A brief by Jacquie Klotz, Charles W. Mathias, and Elena M. Marks reports findings from policy crowdsourcing workshops. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers joined the Texas NMDOH Consortium to collaborate on identifying NMDOH policy opportunities in Texas. In the Fall of 2024, the Texas NMDOH Consortium will publish policy recommendations to elaborate on opportunities to advance the integration of non-medical interventions into the health care system.

Chile holds the world’s largest lithium reserves, yet the country’s current legal framework complicates the task of adding participants to boost lithium production. A commentary by nonresident fellow Benigna Cortés Leiss outlines the Chilean government’s new initiative to boost its lithium market share through collaborations between public and private sectors and questions its potential impacts on the lithium world market.

Nearshoring is gaining global economic significance, with Mexico poised to capitalize on this trend due to its proximity to the U.S., skilled work force, and other competitive factors. A brief commissioned by the Center for the U.S. and Mexico outlines these advantages and discusses the infrastructural challenges that Mexico must overcome to unlock its nearshoring potential.

A slowing inflation rate, low unemployment, and record stock market highs all point to a strong economy. But are consumers really better off than they were four years ago? Center for Public Finance director John W. Diamond takes stock on the Baker Briefing podcast.

Nearshoring offers Mexico a major economic opportunity; however, current policy hindering power expansion, energy transition, and private investment forestalls this prospect. A report by the Center for the U.S. and Mexico on their collaborative workshop series with Tecnológico de Monterrey dissects the power sector’s critical role in nearshoring efforts and offers policy recommendations for a way forward.

John W. Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Public Finance, explains what’s driving the growing government debt, why it’s unsustainable, and why there’s no end in sight without comprehensive fiscal reform.