Brexit‑10 Years Later
Column Published in syndication June 24, 2026About 10 years ago, voters in the United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the European Union (EU). Key issues in the decision included a desire for more control and autonomy, with less immigration without the EU's policy of free movement. Proponents thought the UK would not only save billions of pounds in EU membership fees but would also be able to negotiate better trade deals without the EU bureaucracy. After heated debate, the referendum narrowly passed with 52% of voters choosing to leave.
- Tags:
- Brexit
The Arts
Column Published in syndication June 17, 2026Ernest Hemingway once wrote that "A thousand years makes economics silly and a work of art endures forever..." In addition to being enduring, the arts are also economically imperative.
- Tags:
- the arts,
- economic benefit
Powering Progress
Column Published in syndication June 10, 2026The phenomenon that is AI, while certainly explosive, can only expand as rapidly as its essential fuel allows. With available land and opportunities to generate electricity, Texas is emerging as a primary center for the massive data centers that enable AI. Approximately one-fourth of all new activity (some 140 projects) is presently ongoing in the state, which is rapidly displacing Virginia as the epicenter of this activity.
Ay‑Yi‑Yi AI
Column Published in syndication June 03, 2026It seems that everywhere you look these days, there's a new headline related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications. Billions of dollars in data center construction are generating economic benefits in communities across the country, initial public offerings for major players are garnering headlines, and chipmaker Nvidia's market valuation is topping $5 trillion. AI is having multifaceted and massive effects, and there's no end in sight.
- Tags:
- artificial intelligence
Thirsty Texas
Column Published in syndication May 27, 2026The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) regularly engages in an extensive strategic effort resulting in the State Water Plan. The goal is to have a large enough water supply based on expected population and economic growth and a recurrence of the worst droughts in history, the "drought of record," which is generally when water supplies are lowest and demands are highest.
The Five‑Year Outlook for the US Economy
Column Published in syndication May 20, 2026Although indicators are somewhat mixed, the US economy generally continues to demonstrate modest growth even when confronted with significant challenges. Labor market performance has remained relatively stable, and capital investment continues (particularly in data centers and AI). Let's explore some of the patterns shaping our outlook for the next five years.
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- United States,
- economic forecast
Malevolent Milestone
Column Published in syndication May 13, 2026The US national debt recently crossed an ignoble threshold, exceeding gross domestic product (GDP) for the first time since World War II. Budget deficits are high and accelerating, escalating debt levels rapidly despite a relatively strong economy.
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- debt,
- National debt,
- United States
Jobs‑A Closer Look
Column Published in syndication May 06, 2026Despite a chaotic period for the economy, the job market has remained fairly steady. Uncertainty was rampant, with on-again-off-again tariffs, geopolitical conflicts reaching new levels of intensity (and directly involving the United States), immigration crackdowns and other policy changes impacting workforce availability, and surging investment in and use of AI. Even amidst this milieu, overall jobs data looks okay (at least on the surface and for the moment).
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- jobs
Cracks in the Cartel
Column Published in syndication April 29, 2026In 1960, five major oil producing countries (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela) formed the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The idea was to coordinate production to stabilize prices, countering market power then held by large multinational oil companies. OPEC is a cartel, which is simply a group of independent businesses or countries that collude to fix prices or output. As production by non-OPEC members (especially the United States) has risen, the ability to control prices has been somewhat diluted, but OPEC remains a powerful force.
Mega Metro Magnets
Column Published in syndication April 22, 2026People continue to come to Texas, and the state's largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are where most of them are landing (almost 88% in the top four alone). I wrote about Texas population growth in a prior column when the state data was released, and the gist is that while the pace of expansion slowed markedly due to reduced domestic and international in-migration, the increase was far larger than any other state at more than 391,240 - about 1,072 new Texans every day. The state's 1.25% rate of increase was substantially above the national pace of 0.52%.
- Tags:
- metro,
- population,
- Texas