Southwest Economy Archive

• August 29, 2025
  Austin doc seeks cures for U.S. health care’s ills
  Garheng Kong, a physician by training, founded Austin-based  private equity firm HealthQuest Capital more than a decade ago. He reflects on how changing attitudes and technology, including AI, are changing U.S. health care. 
• August 11, 2025
  Texas economy softens amid uncertain outlook

  Luis Torres and Diego Morales-Burnett

  Texas’ overall pace of economic growth is trending lower, with payroll employment declining in June, a marked turn from robust job gains earlier in 2025.
• July 9, 2025
  China remains modest player in U.S.–Mexico trade despite growing scrutiny

  Brendan Kelly

  Understanding Mexico’s evolving economic linkages with East Asia and China is critical to the future of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA trade accord) and the nearshoring and integration of North American manufacturing supply chains.
• June 6, 2025
  Eleventh District banks rely on core business, stay profitable as loan growth softens

  Ben Munyan

  Banks in the Federal Reserve Eleventh District have adapted to rising interest rates, which have discouraged new borrowing and complicated the transition to higher-earning loan portfolios, while credit remains strong as borrowers continue to make payments amidst economic growth.
• May 30, 2025
  Santa Teresa port of entry navigates future during fraught time
  Jerry Pacheco, president of the Border Industrial Association in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, discusses his work attracting investment from private and public sources for the Santa Teresa project and its prospects in an environment of rapidly changing rules of trade.
• May 15, 2025
  Texas’ economic outlook deteriorates as tariff-related uncertainty builds

  Laila Assanie and Ethan Dixon

  While lagging indicators reflect resilient growth for the Texas economy, more recent survey data suggest diminished momentum amid elevated uncertainty about the outlook.
• May 9, 2025
  Waco building on ‘Fixer Upper,’ Baylor notoriety to reinvent itself
  Malcolm Duncan, whose tenure as Waco mayor coincided with the city’s emergence as a destination and area economic hub, discusses how the city has changed and where its future fortunes and challenges lie.
• April 18, 2025
  Water restrictions, conservation a 24/7 routine in Abilene and the Big Country
  Steve Estes, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Taylor County, offers his perspective on how ranchers, farmers and city dwellers can collectively work to ensure that the area makes the best decisions regarding precious water resources
• April 16, 2025
  Shoring up water supply, curbing demand key to Texas’ future growth

  Ethan Dixon, Robert Leigh and Pia Orrenius

  Funding for water infrastructure improvements has emerged as a priority for the Legislature during its 2025 legislative session. Absent changes to policy, Texans could face significant water shortages during droughts and constraints on future growth and economic development.
• March 24, 2025
  New Mexico fuels U.S. crude oil output, funding for local programs

  Garrett Golding, Diego Morales-Burnett and Kunal Patel

  New Mexico has become a U.S. leader in energy production over the past five years, drawing on Permian Basin reserves in the southeastern corner of the state. Oil and gas proceeds fund an increasing share of state government, most notably involving education programs.