Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2021
Federal COVID-19 relief aided consumer debt, though immigrant Texans derived less benefit
The prevalence of various federal-level assistance programs helped U.S. and Texas residents shore up their household finances during the COVID-19 recession. Among mostly immigrant groups, this tendency was less pronounced, likely due to legal and socioeconomic barriers.
June 18, 2021
Southwest Economy, Second Quarter 2021
Women took brunt of pandemic job loss as priorities shifted to home
Working women fared worse than men in the pandemic—a reversal from the Great Recession.
June 18, 2021
The labor market may be tighter than the level of employment suggests
With payroll employment remaining well below its prior peak, slow job growth would typically suggest weak demand for labor from firms and limited employment opportunities for job seekers. Current conditions in the labor market, however, may be far from typical.
May 27, 2021
Global Perspectives: Claudia Aguirre on community development, high school dropouts and immigration
Aguirre and Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan discussed the origins of BakerRipley, its mission, the problem of high school dropouts and the contributions of immigrants.
May 25, 2021
Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2021
COVID-19 slammed into Texas, leaving long-lasting impacts
The economic road from the COVID-19 recession in Texas will likely feature a steeper, more rapid climb than the usual gradual rise associated with most recoveries.
April 09, 2021
Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2021
Pandemic pushes Texas minority unemployment beyond highs reached during Great Recession
Recessions are hardest on minorities; the COVID-19 downturn is no different in that regard. More than half of Texas’ population is Hispanic or Black and the consequences are far-reaching if those groups lag behind economically.
April 09, 2021
For many, work-from-home arrangements likely to outlast pandemic
Many workers say they expect to work from home after the pandemic ends. Although commuting remained below prepandemic levels at year-end 2020, it is likely to increase in the near term as labor market conditions improve and home arrangements become more part time.
March 30, 2021
Pandemic pushed the U.S. into recession … and hourly wages rose?
The onset of COVID-19 in spring 2020 prompted an unprecedented rapid rise in the unemployment rate. However, a popular and widely cited wage measure—average hourly earnings (AHE)—rose sharply as the health crisis grew.
February 09, 2021
Pandemic economic lifeline: taxes on consumption, labor that fund stay-at-home subsidies
Stay-at-home subsidies funded by taxes on consumption and labor—activities that contribute to viral transmission—can simultaneously reduce deaths and increase output.
January 12, 2021
Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2020
Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Provided Much-Needed Fiscal Support
Enhanced unemployment insurance benefits implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have helped buttress spending among the unemployed.
December 21, 2020