Texas' economic growth has consistently outpaced that of the United States as a
whole over the past quarter century. What accounts for the state's economic
success? And does it come at a price to be paid in the future? Ten-Gallon
Economy features new research on regional economic growth and some
surprising findings on Texas' unique tax and banking institutions, booming
energy and export sectors, vibrant labor market, expanding demographics and
human capital, and growing border economy. Texas has a dynamic economy, large
yet flexible, but it is still subject to the booms and busts of the energy
sector, which exercises an outsized influence. Taxes are low but regressive
relative to national benchmarks, which fuels growth but can inhibit investment
in education and health. Meanwhile, Texas, as one of only five minority-majority
states, is poised to reap a big demographic dividend if it invests wisely in the
coming generation of mostly Latino workers. Taken together, the chapters in this
volume provide unique insight into the economy of the nation's second-largest
state, laying out some of the choices facing policymakers charged with
safeguarding the Texas growth premium for future generations.