Literal Lifetime Literacy Liability
Column Published in syndication April 23, 2025It is impossible to overstate the importance of literacy from a personal, professional, economic, or societal perspective. Texas has quite a bit of work to do!
- Tags:
- literacy
Five‑Alarm Fire!
Column Published in syndication April 16, 2025The day after the election last November, the stock market enjoyed a really strong day, while the bond market did not. That was not at all surprising. The election brought the likelihood of lower taxes and less regulation, both of which make equities more attractive. It also brought fears of higher inflation, which tend to drive interest rates up and make bonds less desirable. Things have changed A LOT since then with all of the uncertainty but therein lies a critical lesson.
- Tags:
- tariffs
Tariffs and Oil
Column Published in syndication April 09, 2025The oil and gas industry has been hit quickly and hard by the recent tariff brouhaha, with prices dropping significantly compared to recent levels (at least as of the time that I am writing). I've been asked several times whether the situation is likely to lead to a sustained "bust" in the industry. There is obviously much uncertainty, but here are a few initial thoughts.
- Tags:
- tariffs,
- oil,
- natural gas
Uncertainty
Column Published in syndication April 02, 2025We've recently seen a rapid increase in uncertainty in the US (and, in fact, the global) economy. Policies related to tariffs are a major source of concern, with a large number of announcements, pauses, shifts, and exemptions causing confusion. Consumers as well as companies are trying to figure out what is going to happen and how they should prepare. In a similar vein, the major shifts in agency funding and missions and frequent backtracking are sources of ongoing consternation. This stuff matters!!
- Tags:
- economy
A Baker's Dozen
Column Published in syndication March 26, 2025Texas continues to dominate the major corporate location and expansion landscape in the US, winning Site Selection magazine's 2024 "Governor's Cup" for an unprecedented 13th year in a row. The Cup is awarded annually to the state with the most projects involving a capital investment of at least $1 million, 20 or more new jobs, or at least 20,000 square feet of new construction. The 2024 total was the highest ever for Texas.
People in Places
Column Published in syndication March 19, 2025The US Census Bureau recently released information regarding population patterns in local areas across the country for the July 1, 2023 through July 1, 2024 period. As might be expected, Texas fares quite well.
- Tags:
- population,
- Texas
Texas Tariffs
Column Published in syndication March 12, 2025The recent barrage of tariffs involves very high economic costs. We estimate that the US economy could lose millions of jobs if the tariffs are sustained, and with each new levy du jour these consequences are escalating. I've also been getting a lot of questions lately about the effects on Texas. The short answer is that the fallout will be substantial. As a large economy and leading trading region, Texas bears a substantial portion of the national burden (more than any other state).
Sweet 16
Column Published in syndication March 05, 2025The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the nation's best-known framework for categorizing US higher education institutions into tiers based on various criteria. Of particular interest from an economic perspective are the designations related to research activity.
- Tags:
- universities,
- research,
- Texas
Water
Column Published in syndication February 26, 2025Adequate supplies of fresh water at reasonable prices are essential to quality of life and economic growth. Over the next 30 years, we are predicting that the Texas population will increase from about 31 million to well over 45 million. This increase of more than 14 million people plus growth in economic output of some $3.4 trillion, much of it in water-intensive sectors, will clearly require far more resources than are currently available.
- Tags:
- water,
- Texas economy
The Great Stay
Column Published in syndication February 19, 2025We tend to label trends in society and the economy in order to simplify complex issues, with the latest example being the "Great Stay." The name is something of a riff on the Great Resignation, Great Recession, Great Depression, and other great and not-so-great patterns which have been similarly proclaimed. The Great Stay refers to the reduced mobility we are observing at present. There are two major components which are coming together to create this phenomenon.
- Tags:
- mortgage rates,
- housing,
- jobs