Southwest Economy Archive

• December 22, 2022
  Go Figure: If Texas were a country …

  Content: Ana Pranger; Design: Justin Chavira and Emily Rogers

  Texas is comparable to entire countries—and so are some of its urban areas.
• October 3, 2022
  Maquiladoras, Mexico’s engine of trade, driven to navigate evolving demand

  Jesus Cañas

  Mexico’s maquiladoras, an important generator of manufacturing and employment activity along the U.S.–Mexico border, confront a changing landscape. Evolving global trade patterns, reflecting stressed supply chains and increasing electric vehicle production, will test maquiladora agility and growth prospects.
• October 3, 2022
  Supply chains slowly mend as Texas firms view recovery in 2023

  Christopher Slijk and Emily Kerr

  Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, disrupted global supply chains have strained Texas businesses trying to meet strong demand.
• October 3, 2022
  Globalization remains a force despite pandemic, political strains

  On the record: A conversation with Pol Antràs

  Pol Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University, discusses international trade flows and what the evidence suggests about the world economy and the accompanying debate about whether an era of deglobalization may be at hand.
• October 3, 2022
  Texas exports reach new record despite strong dollar

  Mytiah Caldwell, Jesus Cañas and Luis Torres

  Texas remains the nation’s top exporter, setting records each month despite the recent appreciation of the dollar. A strong dollar can be bad for business because it makes U.S. goods more expensive overseas.
• October 3, 2022
  Office markets slowly emerge from pandemic slump

  Laila Assanie

  The pandemic seismically shifted work from the office to home, particularly during its initial lockdown phases. Even when these limits and capacity restrictions eased and economic activity rebound­ed, office space demand remained soft and vacancy rates climbed.
• October 3, 2022
  Big federal stimulus, home-value spike won’t ease next slump

  Jason Saving

  Ultra-low interest rates and a historic housing boom that aided state and local government operations are fading, suggesting Texas policymakers may encounter additional difficulties during the next downturn.
• October 3, 2022
  Lorie K. Logan: New Dallas Fed president’s observations, outlook
  We look back five years, when then-Harris County Judge Ed Emmett went “On the Record” in Southwest Economy to discuss the response to Hurricane Harvey.
• July 1, 2022
  Changing economy likely to test banks as stimulus ends, growth slows

  Amy Chapel and Kory Killgo

  Banks in the region and the U.S., which have benefited from pandemic-era fiscal stimulus, face downside risks arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ongoing COVID-19 shocks abroad and expectations of significant central bank tightening to address elevated inflation.
• July 1, 2022
  Looking back: Harris County five years after Hurricane Harvey hit

  Luis Torres

  We look back five years, when then-Harris County Judge Ed Emmett went “On the Record” in Southwest Economy to discuss the response to Hurricane Harvey.