Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

Urban revitalization can bring economic growth to historical neighborhoods, but how does it affect existing businesses? Balancing desirable economic improvement in inner-city neighborhoods while avoiding the displacement of established local businesses is a key concern. In a new working paper, scholar Alisha S. explores the economic performance of small businesses in #Houston's Third Ward from 1999 to 2021, comparing the neighborhood’s growth to that of the broader city during the same period. Read more: https://bit.ly/40tyUa6

🗨️ What‘s ahead for U.S.-Mexico relations under Trump? See what Tony Payan, director of the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico, had to say in his interview with Texas Standard. ”Mexico has been doing a good job at stopping immigration, but that’s not enough for President Trump. I think he will demand that all immigration be stopped, not just 50 or 60%.“ Read or listen to the full interview. ⤵️ https://bit.ly/3WiXLuF

Explore nearshoring through a novel taxonomy that differentiates capital origin and project type — new developments versus infrastructure expansion. This working paper from the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico, by nonresident scholar Roberto Duran-Fernandez and Ernesto Stein of the School of Government and Public Transformation, Tecnológico de Monterrey (Escuela de Gobierno y Transformación Pública), provides key insights into this rapidly evolving trend. Read more: https://bit.ly/4afivZV

As 2024 draws to a close, the global oil market faces pivotal questions. At our recent event, Baker Institute fellow Mark Finley led an in-depth discussion on the trends shaping oil supply, demand, and prices in the coming year. The conversation explored how U.S. policy and investment shifts might impact supply, electric vehicle adoption’s role in shaping global demand, and the ongoing strategies of OPEC+ as they balance price stability with market share amidst geopolitical tensions. Claudio Galimberti provided a long-term perspective, noting that by 2030, OPEC countries will be the primary drivers of supply growth. For Saudi Arabia and Russia, the strategy is about patience—balancing current cuts with future potential. Learn more about the key takeaways and insights from the event. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3DVkpTp

🏭 President-elect Donald #Trump has vowed to speed up environmental approvals for those investing $1 billion or more in the United States. But Daniel Cohan, a Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES) faculty scholar, is skeptical of the claim that environmental regulations stifle business. “We've seen the oil and gas industry prosper and produce more oil and gas than ever before, even with EPA regulations.” Read more in CBS News: https://cbsn.ws/4fJptaV. #cleanenergy #environment #sustainability #energy

🌍 In a year marked by regional upheaval, experts from the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East provided timely research and actionable insights. From the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by the Israel-Hamas war to disruptions in energy supply chains and the impacts of climate displacement, their work provided critical insights to inform policy and action. Looking ahead to 2025, the center remains committed to delivering timely, impactful research on the Middle East’s most pressing issues, shaping policy approaches to the region’s enduring political, economic and societal concerns. Keep up with the latest updates by visiting the center’s page: https://bit.ly/41N23ho

TUNE IN: Joe Biden entered office with plans to prioritize American workers in foreign policy and strengthen U.S. alliances against the threats posed by China and Russia. His administration would ultimately face significant crises abroad, from Ukraine to Gaza, that tested his vision for American diplomacy and brought new challenges and opportunities to the fore. On Dec. 17, 2024, two members of Biden’s foreign policy team joined Baker Institute Director David Satterfield to discuss the president’s legacy as he prepares to exit office and as Donald Trump gears up for a second term. 🎙️ Listen to this episode at the link or on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/g5PKN8SZ. 📺 Video of the event is available on our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/gHbQmeUR.

The #Texas #GOP has yet to coalesce around a new House speaker, with establishment-backed Dustin Burrows tossing his hat in the ring after David Cook, who is supported by Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and triggering a fight within the party. 🗨️ Mark P. Jones tells Governing: “The likely future of a lot of conservative legislation coming out of the Senate, if Burrows is speaker, is it either gets blocked and never reaches the floor or it gets watered down substantially.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4fLYE5Z. #txlege #schoolvouchers #schoolchoice

📑 🇲🇽 In December, the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico released its Mexico Country Outlook report for 2025, following its annual conference with influential leaders and top thinkers from industry, government, and academia to discuss the major policy issues facing Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations in the coming year. The report examines the challenges and opportunities Mexico will face under the new Claudia Sheinbaum administration, which has continued many of the policies of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Access the full report: https://bit.ly/4050ieo

ICYMI: A renewed “maximum pressure” campaign on #Iran appears likely under #Trump, but his second administration will confront a very different landscape in the #MiddleEast than his first. In a new brief, the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East’s Kristian Ulrichsen and Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar and the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES)’s Jim Krane lay out Iran’s oil export patterns and ability to counter sanctions, possible U.S. avenues for pressure and engagement, and the potential Iranian response. 📖 View the full brief: https://bit.ly/4j3cEef