Research Library

With high entrepreneurship and startup rates, Latino immigrants are key contributors to U.S. economic development. In a new report for the Center for the U.S and Mexico, nonresident fellow Elizabeth Salamanca explains how their skills and expertise are integral to innovative startups that often evolve into binational businesses, operating in both the U.S. and Mexico.

The lack of quality early childhood education carries short- and long-term adverse health and economic effects for children, families, and caregivers across the U.S. A new brief from the Center for Health and Biosciences offers policy recommendations toward increasing the Child Tax Credit and federal support to improve the access and quality of child care options as well as the future of families in the U.S.

Testimony of Daniel S. Cohan to the Texas House Environmental Regulation Committee on Sept. 5, 2024.

The prices of U.S. hospital services have surged exponentially over the last two decades, outpacing inflation and rates of other medical services. A new report by Derek Jenkins, Sasathorn Tapaneeyakul, and Vivian Ho unpacks whether rising operational costs justify increased prices or if hospital profits are driving this price escalation.

While some scholars claim freeways were designed to adversely impact neighborhoods of color, fellow Edward M. Emmett argues this oversimplifies the issue. In this research paper, he explores the history of Houston’s freeways to uncover a range of factors at play.

In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, the Houthi Red Sea campaign has caused significant economic disruptions — underscoring geopolitical shifts in the region. A new brief from the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and the Center for Energy Studies summarizes a conversation in which experts outline how the Houthi challenge has evolved over time and against the backdrop of Yemen’s ongoing conflicts.

Despite innovations in information and communication technologies, Mexico has experienced slow productivity and GDP growth over recent decades. For insights into why the country’s economic progress has been limited, read nonresident scholar James Gerber’s new research paper for the Center for the U.S. and Mexico.

Is global oil demand going to rise or fall? And are forecasters analysts or advocates? Recently, variances have increased across long- and short-term oil market forecasts from major institutions — carrying implications for global oil prices, sustainability, and economies. A brief by fellow Mark Finley traces the growing disparities in oil demand projections and examines the need to recognize shifting institutional bias’s role in these projections.

Ken Medlock offers a brief history of the Center for Energy Studies and an overview of its data-driven, cross-cutting research on the forces propelling energy market evolution.

The challenges faced in the Texas electricity market are well publicized, but not insurmountable. Julie A. Cohn presents key findings and recommendations to address concerns about the reliability of the Texas energy grid. Several issues to watch have bearing on the state’s economy and the well-being of its population. Moreover, the outcomes of proposed policies to address various issues carry implications for electrification and the deployment of renewable energy well beyond Texas.