Research Library

While rapid economic and population expansion in Texas cities’ can bring financial prosperity, such growth also can strain local governments’ ability to provide public services and balance budgets. In a new outlook, John W. Diamond and Joyce Beebe detail the financial positions of Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and Dallas, highlighting each city’s budgetary achievements and gaps.

The Sheinbaum administration recently unveiled its National Strategy for the Electric Sector, aiming to strengthen Mexico’s state-owned companies. In doing so, it may have overlooked key economic, infrastructural, and technological challenges. In a new issue brief, nonresident scholar Rolando Fuentes explores the plan’s potential benefits, risks, and gaps — emphasizing how comprehensive and transparent policies are crucial for building a sustainable, vibrant electricity sector in Mexico.

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.

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

Developing global partnerships could provide essential research and funding for nuclear energy and the energy transition. In a new policy brief for Brussels School of Governance’s Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy, nonresident fellow Henry Haggard highlights potential collective efforts that JUKE could undertake to leverage their shared strengths for a more sustainable future.

In order to safeguard the peaceful use of outer space — and protect sustain U.S. leadership in this domain — a modern treaty is needed to foster international cooperation in commercial and national security space activities. This new policy brief outlines the issues.

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.