Economists

Jesus Cañas

Senior Business Economist
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Jesus Cañas is a senior business economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas where he analyzes regional economic growth. His research also focuses on issues pertaining to the Mexican economy, the U.S.–Mexico border economy and cross-border manufacturing.

He has written articles for academic journals such as Annals of Regional Science and Growth and Change and co-edited Ten Gallon Economy: Sizing up Economic Growth in Texas. His publication "Texas Border Cities Illustrate Beneﬁts and Challenges of Trade" has been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal as well as in all major Texas newspapers.

Cañas is a member of the Mission Foods Texas–Mexico Center Faculty Advisory Board at Southern Methodist University, charged with the task of improving the Texas–Mexico relationship in its economic, political, social and cultural aspects. He is also an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University.

He holds a BA in economics and ﬁnance and an MS in economics from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

University of Texas at El Paso, MS in Economics, 2002
University of Texas at El Paso, BBA in Finance and Economics, 1997

Employment

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, 2/11–Present
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, El Paso Branch, 10/96–1/11

Academic Publications

“The Impact of Maquiladoras on U.S. Border Cities," with Roberto Coronado, Robert W Gilmer, and Eduardo Saucedo, Growth and Change 44(3) 415–42. 2013.
"Do Remittances Boost Economic Development? Evidence from Mexican States," with Pia Orrenius, Madeline Zavodny and Roberto Coronado, Law and Business Review of the Americas, Fall 2010.
“Maquiladora Employment Dynamics in Nuevo Laredo,” with Thomas M. Fullerton, Jr, Growth and Change, March 2007
"Regional Business Cycle Integration Along the U.S.–Mexico Border," with Keith Phillips, The Annals of Regional Science, February 2007.
“Maquiladora Downturn: Structural Change or Cyclical Factors?” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, International Business and Economics Research Journal, August 2004 >

Edited Volumes, Book Chapters and Articles in Conference Volumes:

Ten-Gallon Economy: Sizing up Texas’ Economic Growth, Pia M. Orrenius, Jesus Cañas and Michael Weiss, eds. Palgrave MacMillan, 2015.
"Texas Comparative Advantage and Manufacturing Exports," with Luis Torres and Christina English in Ten-Gallon Economy: Sizing up Texas’ Economic Growth, Pia M. Orrenius, Jesus Cañas and Michael Weiss, eds. Palgrave MacMillan, 2015.
“U.S.–Mexico Remittances: Recent Trends and Measurement Issues,” with Pia Orrenius and Roberto Coronado in Migration, Trade and Development: Conference Proceedings, James Hollifield, Pia Orrenius and Thomas Osang, eds., Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, 2007.
Business Cycle Indexes: A Composite Measure of Local Economies" Jesus Canas, Regional Econometrics, describes the construction and use of composite indexes of regional economic activity. December 2006
“El empleo en la frontera de Texas y el crecimiento de las maquiladoras,” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Acontecimientos Recientes sobre Desarrollo Económico Fronterizo, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Conference Proceedings Book, Jorge Eduardo Mendoza Cota, ed., 2006

Dallas Fed Publications

"Go Figure: Assessing the Cost of Longer Border Wait Times," with Olumide Eseyin and Chloe N. Smith, Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2019
"Spotlight: Mexico’s Fiscal Reform Earns Mixed Reviews," Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2019
"Position as Top Exporting State Exposes Texas to Shifting Trade Policy," with Stephanie Gullo, Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2019
"Spotlight: Mexico Sees Stronger 2018, NAFTA Challenges," Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2018
"Go Figure—Remittances to Central America Soar," with Emily Rogers, Darcy Taj and Stephanie Gullo, Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2017
"Intra-Industry Trade with Mexico May Aid U.S. Global Competitiveness," with Aldo Heffner and Jorge Herrera Hernández, Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2017
Mexico Economic Update, 2011–present
“Texas Border Cities Illustrate Benefits and Challenges of Trade,” Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2016
“Remittances to Mexico Fall as Immigration, Incomes Stagnate,” with Pia Orrenius, Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2016
“Mexico’s Four Economies Reflect Regional Differences, Challenges,” with Emily Gutierrez, Southwest Economy, Third Quarter 2015
“Fed Manufacturing Surveys Provide Insight into National Economy,” with Emily Kerr, Pia Orrenius, and Jack Wang Economic Letters Volume 9, Number 13 October 2014
“NAFTA at 20: Shortcomings Suggest Trade Agreement Alone Isn’t Enough,” with Pia Orrenius Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2014
“Reforma Energética: Mexico Takes First Steps to Overhaul Oil Industry,” with Michael D. Plante, Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2014
“Will Reforms Pay Off This Time? Experts Assess Mexico’s Prospects,” with Roberto Coronado and Pia Orrenius, Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2013
“Mexico Resilient in 2011 Amid Global Uncertainty and Sluggish U.S. Growth,” Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2012
“Texas Economy Moves from Recovery to Expansion,” with Keith Phillips, Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2012
“Mexico Rides Global Recovery but Still Faces Hurdles,” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Southwest Economy, Third Quarter 2011
“Spotlight: Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey Completing the Regional Economic Picture,” with Emily Kerr, Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2011
“Trade Conference Explores U.S.–Mexico 'Common Bonds',” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2011
“Spotlight: Maquiladora Employment. New Data Confirm Pickup in Juárez Factory Jobs,” with Roberto Coronado, Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2010
“Spotlight: Remittances to Mexico. Cross-Border Money Flows Slowed by U.S. Slump,” with Roberto Coronado, Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2010
"Is the Recession Over in El Paso?" with Robert W. Gilmer, Crossroads, Issue 1, May 2010
"Spotlight: Maquiladora Employment New Data Confirm Pickup in Juárez Factory Jobs," Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2010
"Cross-Border Money Flows Slowed by U.S. Slump," with Roberto Coronado, Southwest Economy, first quarter 2010
“The Maquiladora's Changing Geography,” with Robert W. Gilmer, Southwest Economy, second quarter 2009
“Recession Arrives in Texas: A Rougher Ride in 2009,” with Keith R. Phillips, Southwest Economy, first quarter 2009
“New Dallas Fed Indicator Tracks Texas Retail Sales,” with Keith R. Phillips, Southwest Economy, Issue 5, September/October 2008
"Explaining the Increase in Remittances to Mexico," with Roberto Coronado and Pia M. Orrenius, Southwest Economy, July/August 2007
“SpotLight: Maquiladora Data,” with Robert W. Gilmer, Southwest Economy, May/June 2007
"Maquiladora Recovery: Lessons for the Future," with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Southwest Economy, March/April 2007
“El Paso Economy Sluggish in 2007: U.S. Slowdown Outweighs Fort Bliss Expansion,” with Robert W. Gilmer and Charles James, Crossroads, Issue 2, 2007
"Border Benefits from Mexican Shoppers," with Roberto Coronado and Keith Phillips, Southwest Economy, May/June 2006.
“U.S., Mexico Deepen Economic Ties,” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Southwest Economy, January/February 2006.
“Housing Market Trends in El Paso,” with Thomas M. Fullerton, Jr.and Roberto Tinajero, Crossroads Issue 2, 2006
“Texas Border Benefits from Retail Sales to Mexican Nationals,” with Keith R. Phillips, The Face Texas: Jobs, People, Business and Change, November 2005
“Texas Border Employment and Maquiladora Growth,” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, The Face Texas: Jobs, People, Business and Change, November 2005
“Border Cities: Economic Competitors or Complements?” with Ebetuel Pallares and Luis Bernardo Torres Ruiz, Crossroads, Issue 2, 2005
“Cyclical Differences Emerge in Border City Economies,” with Roberto Coronado, Crossroads, Issue 1, 2005
“Trade, Manufacturing Put Mexico Back on Track in 2004,” with Robert W. Gilmer and Roberto Coronado, Houston Business, March 2005
“Framing the Future: Tomorrow’s Border Economy,” with Robert W. Gilmer, Keith R. Phillips and Roberto Coronado, Vista, Issue 1 2005
“Framing the Future: Tomorrow’s Border Economy,” with Robert W. Gilmer, Keith R. Phillips and Roberto Coronado, Business Frontier, Issue 4, 2004
“U.S.–Mexico Trade: Are We Still Connected?,” with Roberto Coronado, Business Frontier, Issue 3, 2004
“Maquiladora Downturn: Structural Change or Cyclical Factors?,” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Business Frontier, Issue 2, 2004
“Composite Index: A New Measure of El Paso’s Economy,” with Robert W. Gilmer, and Keith R. Phillips, Business Frontier, Issue 1, 2003.
“A New Index of Coincident Economic Activity for Houston,” with Robert W. Gilmer and Keith R. Phillips, Houston Business, Issue 3, 2003.
“Maquiladora Industry: Past, Present and Future,” with Roberto Coronado, Business Frontier, Issue 2, 2002
“A Decade of Change: El Paso's Economic Transition of the 1990s,” Business Frontier, 2002

Other Publications

“U.S.–Mexico Remittances: Recent Trends and Measurement Issues,” with Pia Orrenius and Roberto Coronado in Migration, Trade and Development: Conference Proceedings, James Hollifield, Pia Orrenius and Thomas Osang, eds., Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, 2007.
Business Cycle Indexes: A Composite Measure of Local Economies" Jesus Canas, Regional Econometrics, describes the construction and use of composite indexes of regional economic activity. December 2006
“El empleo en la frontera de Texas y el crecimiento de las maquiladoras,” with Roberto Coronado and Robert W. Gilmer, Acontecimientos Recientes sobre Desarrollo Económico Fronterizo, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Conference Proceedings Book, Jorge Eduardo Mendoza Cota, ed., tor forthcoming, Summer 2006
“Commentary on Charter Evolution in Maquiladoras: A Case Study of Reynosa, Tamaulipas,” Maquiladoras Today, Conference Proceedings Book, Second NOBE/REF International Economic Research Forum, Editor Van Miller, Summer 2006

Working Papers

“International Trade and Economic Growth: Causal Relations within NAFTA,” with Andres Giraldo Southern Methodist University. Working paper Vol. 16/10, año 2016. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá Colombia.
“Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey: Methodology and Performance,” with Emily Kerr, , Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Research Dept. Working Paper 1416
"The Impact of Maquiladoras on U.S. Border Cities," with Roberto Coronado, Robert W Gilmer, and Eduardo Saucedo, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Research Dept. Working Paper 1107
“Industrial Structure and Economic Complementarities in City Pairs on the Texas-Mexico Border,” with Robert W. Gilmer, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Working Paper 05-03

Dallas Fed Conferences Organized

Sizing Up Texas' Growth Conference Series

“Vistas from Texas: An Economic Outlook November 4”, 2016 Dallas Texas
“Vistas from Texas: An Economic Outlook August 7”, 2015 Houston Texas

“The Political Economy of Texas–Mexico: Common Bonds, Shared Challenges,” April 7–8, 2016 Dallas Texas
“Ten-Gallon Economy: Sizing Up Texas’ Growth,” November 7, 2014 Dallas Texas
“México: How to Tap Progress,” November 2012, Houston Texas
“U.S. and Mexico Manufacturing: Common Bonds,” November 2010, El Paso Texas
“Cross-Border Shopping Activity,” January 2006, San Antonio Texas
“The U.S. and Mexico: Are We Still Connected?” November 2005, Houston Texas
“Framing the Future: Tomorrow's Border Economy” December 2004, El Paso Texas
"U.S. - Mexico Border Economic Indicators Methodology Workshop" August 2004, El Paso Texas
“Maquiladora Downturn: Structural Change or Cyclical Factors?” November 2003, South Padre Island Texas
“Second NOBE/REF International Economic Research Forum: Maquiladoras Today,” November 15, 2002 El Paso Texas
“First NOBE/REF International Research Forum: The U.S.–Mexico Border Economy in the 21st Century,” June 2001, Tijuana Baja California, Mexico

Contributions

“The Business Cycle in Houston Since the Oil Bust,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Houston Business, January 2003,
“Cross Border Cargo Vehicles Flows,” International Journal of Transport Economics, 29, 201–13
“U.S.–Mexico Trade: Sectors and Regions,”Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 2, 2000.
“NAFTA's First Five Years (Part 1),”Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 2, 1999.
“NAFTA, the U.S. Economy and Maquiladoras,”Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 1, 2001.
“Maquiladoras 2000: Still Growing,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 3, 2000.
“NAFTA's First Five Years (Part 2): U.S.–Mexico Trade and Investment Under NAFTA,”Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 1, 2000.
“The Binational Importance of the Maquiladora Industry,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Southwest Economy, November/December, 1999.
“Mexico's Economy in 1998 and 1999,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 1, 1999.
“The Maquiladora Industry in Historical Perspective (Part 2),”Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 4, 1998.
“Immigration and the Economy—Part II,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Southwest Economy, September/October, 1998.
“The Maquiladora Industry in Historical Perspective (Part 1),”Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 3, 1998.
“Immigration and the Economy—Part I,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Southwest Economy, July/August, 1998.
“International Trade at the U.S.–Mexican Border,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 2, 1998.
“El Paso's Labor-Mismatch Dilemma,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 1, 1998.
“Maquiladora Update,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 4, 1997.
“A Look at Mexico's Trade: Free Trade Agreements (Part 2),” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 3, 1997.
“A Look at Mexico's Trade (Part 1),” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 2, 1997.
“NAFTA and Jobs,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 1, 1997.
“Maquiladora Industry: Still Going Strong (Part 2),” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 4, 1996.
“Maquiladora Industry: Still Going Strong (Part 1),” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Business Frontier, Issue 3, 1996.