The Houston economy went from boom to bust to recovery during the 1980s. Expectations of oil prices at $50 per barrel and higher in the late 70s and early 80s stimulated hundreds of oil-related projects in the area. An oil-price decline, however, led the Houston economy into a sharp recession...

Many observers view economic diversification as the antidote for the Southwest’s boom-and-bust cycles and as the key to long-term economic growth. Robert W. Gilmer addresses this issue by analyzing whether regional growth has been dominated by industry-specific cyclical factors or whether...

Robert W. Gilmer uses a new analytical technique to explain why longtime rivals Dallas and Houston can coexist less than 250 miles apart. This new technique permits an unusually complete analysis of the role of services in the growth of cities. The analysis focuses on distinguishing services...