Special Report

The Border Economy

The Texas border community has historically been the state's most disadvantaged area. However, the last decade has seen dramatic improvements in unemployment and other economic factors. This series of nine articles explores issues important to the region's economy—from job growth, wages and education to infrastructure demands, maquiladoras and illegal immigration.

Complete Issue

Articles

• Introduction
  Mine Yücel
• Texas Border Cities: An Income Growth Perspective
  Robert W. Gilmer, Matthew Gurch and Thomas Wang
• The Border: Is It Really a Low-Wage Area?
  Lori L. Taylor
• Secondary Education: Its Impact on Border Education
  Thomas M. Fullerton, Jr.
• Transportation Infrastructure and the Border Economy
  Keith Phillips and Carlos Manzanares
• Housing Affordability: Outlook Improving Along the Border
  Toby Cook
• Texas Colonias: Housing and Infrastructure Issues
  Ariel Cisneros
• NAFTA and Maquiladoras: Is the Growth Connected?
  William C. Gruben and Sherry L. Kiser
• Maquiladoras: Impact on Texas Border Cities
  Lucinda Vargas
• Illegal Immigration and Enforcement Along the Southwest Border
  Pia M. Orrenius
• Texas–Mexico Border Region Statistics

Published June 2001