Reports

This Implementation Guide provides an overview of the video-recording practices currently in place across several Texas jurisdictions. It provides guidance and considerations for jurisdictions in the collection and use of video evidence in family violence cases. This guide is divided into seven sections, including this Background and Overview. The second section includes information for law […]Read More

The Economic Development: Generating Entrepreneurs (EDGE) Program, funded by the Walton Family Foundation, was initiated in Northwest Arkansas in Spring 2018. The program, managed by the IC2 Institute at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) had the following goals: to assess policies, players and programs in the region; to engage in pilot, collaborative […]Read More

Spring/summer 2017 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: Austin Technology Incubator works with Austin Community College to establish ACC Bioscience Incubator; ATI hosts first Solar Data Reverse Hackathon; Bureau of Business Research and IDVSA release report on Cultivating Learning & Safe Environments (CLASE) across the University of Texas System; celebrating […]Read More

The Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments (CLASE) (pronounced ‘class’) project is a research study about University of Texas System students’ experiences with sexual harassment, stalking, dating/domestic abuse and violence, and unwanted sexual contact. As part of the study, the University of Texas System conducted the most in-depth survey of sexual assault and misconduct ever undertaken […]Read More

Public libraries in the State of Texas provide significant economic benefits for their communities. Collectively, in FY2015, Texas public libraries were found to provide $2.628 billion in benefits while costing $566 million, a return on investment of $4.64 for each dollar. A data-intensive research design was developed to document and to quantify these economic benefits. […]Read More

This study analyzes the economic and fiscal impacts of expenditures by the Texas Military Department for federal FY2015, October 1, 2014 through September 2015. These impacts are analyzed and reported for Texas statewide, for different categories of expenditures, and for local Texas communities where the Texas Military Forces (Texas Army and Air National Guards, and […]Read More

Fall/winter 2016 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: Austin Technology Incubator graduating class receives over $220 million in funding; ATI nets support for student entrepreneurship: Blackstone LaunchPad and SEAL expansion; FASTForward Austin: acceleration for small business entrepreneurs; Austin entrepreneurship study moves ahead; XLr8 Andhra Pradesh: IC² opens business accelerator in […]Read More

Report from the Statewide Human Trafficking Mapping Project of Texas, a collaboration among the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (IDVSA) and the Bureau of Business Research at The University of Texas at Austin as well as Allies Against Slavery. The study found that there are more than 300,000 victims of human trafficking in […]Read More

The purpose of this paper is to explore the dimensions of diabetes in Belize and its impact on sustainable wellbeing. Diabetes is the leading cause of death in Belize, with many contributing factors. The author identifies some of those factors as well as governmental and non-governmental efforts to reduce them. The author's research was partially […]Read More

This report examines the results of a research partnership between PredictionWorks, a private firm, and The University of Texas at Austin (McCombs School of Business and the IC² Institute). PredictionWorks' New Venture Assessor is an assessment system which attempts to predict the success of new ventures based on their business plans. In this study the […]Read More

Fall/winter 2015 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: IC² Institute activities in Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, and Turkey; the Austin Technology Incubator Start-up Library; ATI's Student Entrepreneur Acceleration and Launch (SEAL) program; the Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship (SEF) program, and a student-led startup developing telepsychiatry services […]Read More

During 2014-2015, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (LBJ School) and the IC² Institute of The University of Texas at Austin, in cooperation with National Instruments unit Planet NI, conducted two experiments to facilitate technology transfer to encourage entrepreneurship and economic development in Indonesia and Kenya. The “Technology Transfer, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development” […]Read More

Final report from a study conducted in 2015 on the prevalence of sexual assault in Texas. The study was based on a statewide telephone survey conducted in English and Spanish using a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,203 adult Texans. The report presents descriptive findings on sexual assault prevalence, health and well-being in Texas, including […]Read More

Report on the current state of the Belizean educational system and recommendations for reforms. Written under the auspices of the Bridging Disciplines Programs at The University of Texas at Austin with mentor David V. Gibson of the IC² Institute.Read More

Report on demographic, social, and economic trends in Belize based on the 2010 Census. Written under the auspices of the Bridging Disciplines Programs at The University of Texas at Austin with mentor David V. Gibson of the IC² Institute.Read More

Economic impact report for the clean technology sector in central Texas, commissioned by CleanTX and supported by the Austin Technology Incubator and Civic Analytics. The study finds that the cleantech sector in the Austin region directly employs nearly 20,000 individuals and contributes approximately $2.5 billion to the region's GDP. In addition, it projects cleantech employment […]Read More

Spring/summer 2015 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: IC² Institute activities in Colombia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey; reports from the 2015 IC² Institute Fellows meeting and SXSW Interactive; emerging IC² Institute collaboration with Shreveport, Louisiana; the National Science Foundation I-Corps; the USAA Innovator Certification program; […]Read More

This report describes the complex challenges faced by veterans and their families in seeking, navigating, and attaining adequate mental health care in Texas. There are 1.7 million veterans in Texas, comprising 8.6 percent of the adult population. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), the number of veterans requiring mental health services has […]Read More

Fall/Winter 2014 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: news from IC² Institute programs in Colombia, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, and Turkey; IC² Institute Fellow Meg Wilson on women and STEM; new applications for Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA); reports on the Converting Technology to Wealth (CTW) and Student Acceleration […]Read More

This study updates the 2011 "Texas Moving Image Incentive Program: The Economic Benefits from Incentives" study from the Bureau of Business Research. It finds that there are economic benefits (direct and indirect) totaling $1.3 billion for the Texas economy from the $74.8 million that the Incentive Program spent on moving image projects from 2007 to […]Read More

Spring/Summer 2014 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: the Austin Technology Incubator graduating class of 2014; ATI impact study; Federal projects; Bureau of Business Research Survey of Texas Black-owned Businesses; new “Converting Technology to Wealth” intensive course in technology commercialization; 3 Day Startup (3DS); and IC² Institute programs in Colombia, […]Read More

Report on the state of black-owned businesses in Texas, based on demographic data and a statewide survey of black business owners.Read More

The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) is the business incubator of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. ATI works with seed- and pre-seed-stage technology startups, helping to prepare these businesses for commercial success. This study estimated the value to the Travis County economy of ATI companies that graduated over a 10-year period […]Read More

Annual report for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the period 2012-2013. Sections cover CoLab's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, Advanced Computing, and Emerging Technologies (nanotechnology). CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the […]Read More

Annual report covering the 2013 activities of the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN). UTEN is a technology commercialization program of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab), administered by the IC² Institute of the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

Report on assets and challenges for sustainable development in Belize. Written under the auspices of the Bridging Disciplines Programs at The University of Texas at Austin with mentor David V. Gibson of the IC² Institute.Read More

Fall, 2013, issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: 2013 Fellows Meeting; social physics; history of entrepreneurial development in Austin; the 25th anniversary of the Austin Technology Incubator; TechBA Expo of Mexican businesses; UTEN Portugal program; new technologies from India; and recent IC² Institute publications.Read More

Update and elaboration of the 1988 Journal of Business Venturing article "Creating the Technopolis: High-Technology Development in Austin, Texas" which emphasized the role of key influencers, institutions and networks that made possible Austin’s extraordinary technology-based growth. Elaborates the "Technopolis Wheel" framework to better reflect challenges and opportunities as well as review lessons learned during the […]Read More

Annual report for the Digital Media section of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the period 2011-2012. Sections cover CoLab Digital Media's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology […]Read More

Cumulative report on the 2007-2012 activities of the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN). UTEN is a technology commercialization program of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab), administered by the IC² Institute of the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

Report examining the economic benefits of Texas public libraries. Includes 40 case profiles of specific libraries’ activities which benefit businesses, business organizations, self-employed individuals, employees, and job seekers. In 2011 Texas public libraries collectively were found to provide $2.407 billion in benefits while costing less than $0.545 billion, a return on investment of $4.42 for […]Read More

Fall, 2012, issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: IC² Innovation Readiness Series; the UT Austin|Portugal program and UTEN; IC² partnership with Ruta N in Colombia; the Austin Technology Incubator's graduating class of 21 companies; recent IC² Institute publications; and the legacy of IC² Endowed Fellow W.W. Cooper.Read More

This report analyzes a survey of 2,811 Texas Hispanic-owned firms with paid employees conducted in 2011. The findings presented here build on results from the 2007 Survey of Business Owners (U.S. Census Bureau) and identify challenges to growth among Texas Hispanic-owned firms with employees. These firms were responsible for the vast majority of economic activity […]Read More

Annual report for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the period 2010-2011. Sections cover CoLab's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, and Advanced Computing. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for […]Read More

Annual report covering the 2011 activities of the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN). UTEN is a technology commercialization program of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab), administered by the IC² Institute of the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

Feasibility study for the development of a wet-laboratory incubator in Austin, Texas, conducted by the Austin Technology Incubator. Constitutes the final report for Economic Development Administration Grant F08-06-04600. Investigates the hypothesis that, due to a shortage of commercial wet laboratories in the Austin area, the creation of a wet-lab space available to startup companies would […]Read More

A comprehensive needs assessment of sexual assault services for adult victims in Texas, based on interviews and surveys of victims, the professionals that assist them, and statewide leaders. The report estimates that the State of Texas spends approximately $42.8 million on services for victims of adult sexual assault every year, excluding unreimbursed medical costs and […]Read More

This study analyzes the economic and fiscal impacts of the $80 million Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. The incentive program was created to encourage companies, producers, and small businesses to choose Texas over other states when selecting sites for their film, television, commercial, and video game productions. See also the 2013 update and addendum […]Read More

State economic development incentive programs are significant factors when attracting film, TV, commericials and video game producers to a state. This article summarizes the findings of an economic impact analysis that was performed in the late 2010 and early 2011 for the Texas Associaton of Business that focused on the Incentive Program's impact on the […]Read More

Assessment of financial and operational outlooks for Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) in rapidly growing areas of Texas. The study finds that a category of medium and large ESDs in high-growth areas face significant challenges because of increasing demands for service without an opportunity to raise additional revenues. It identifies statutory and administrative obstacles which prevent […]Read More

The CAPCO program can best be described as a strategic public/private partnership that leverages private capital to fund sustainable small business growth. The policy intent was to drive capital in ways that would overcome market failures and strive to counteract geographic and socioeconomic barriers. In order to estimate the value of CAPCO investments, an analysis […]Read More

Annual reports for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the period 2009-2010. Sections cover CoLab's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, and Advanced Computing. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for […]Read More

Report on title insurance practices in the U.S. and Canada prepared for the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Legislature. The report includes chapters evaluating title policy coverage, prices, and losses by state; the federal roles regarding title insurance; comparisons of title regulation among states; and sets of recommendations for the Commissioner‘s consideration. This […]Read More

Annual report for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab). Covers CoLab's 2010 educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, and Advanced Computing. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

Annual report covering the 2009-2010 activities of the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN). UTEN is a technology commercialization program of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab), administered by the IC² Institute of the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

More than ever, innovative and hard-working Texans need efficient and effective systems that promote economic mobility and opportunity. Currently, Texas faces two major public policy challenges. The first is that many Texans are outside the financial mainstream with subpar credit scores, low-wage income, and limited avenues for economic mobility. The second challenge is that many […]Read More

Since 2005, state taxpayers have provided nearly $600 million for two venture capital programs: the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) and the Texas Certified Capital Company Program (CAPCO). Both programs make investments in small companies that use the capital to make payroll and strategic investments that will lead to economic growth, wealth creation, and more […]Read More

Manufacturing firms are generally on the front lines of environmental protection because most industrial pollution is a result of manufacturing activity. The problem is that firms do not have strong incentives for pollution abatement because they see it as an additional cost and investment in nonproductive activity. This article focuses on the Texas manufacturing sector, […]Read More

The Texas workforce development system strives to ensure that employers, individuals, and communities have the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity. The demands on this system will increase as the state's workforce, currently over 11 million, continues to diversify and grow. To help policymakers, funders, and program staff better understand how workforce development resources […]Read More

In 2006, Texas initiated what would become a nationwide movement toward increased state government financial transparency by posting detailed records of the Governor's office expenses online. Since then, Texas has remained a leader in the development of web-based tools for information exchange between government and citizens. The challenge for Texas lies in remaining at the […]Read More

Insert to the Texas Business Journal detailing the contribution of the IC² Institute and its component programs.Read More

In the past decade, Texas began to harness some of its abundant wind potential and, in the process, became an international wind energy leader. The state currently accounts for more than 25 percent of installed wind energy capacity in the United States. But for the first time since 2006, the growth of the state's new […]Read More

This report presents the results of a policy research project conducted during the 2009-2010 academic year that examined the availability of health coverage in Mexico for Mexican-born persons who are or soon will be Medicare beneficiaries. This project included developing a questionnaire in English and Spanish and administering it to a number of individuals in […]Read More

Annual report for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the period 2008-2009. Covers CoLab's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, and Advanced Computing. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for Science […]Read More

Annual report covering the 2008-2009 activities of the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN). UTEN is a technology commercialization program of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab), administered by the IC² Institute of the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

The U.S.-Mexico relationship has been rocky for some time, and there is little doubt that the current recession has made matters worse. The relationship between the two countries has been strained by competition for jobs, infrastructure issues, security concerns, and a general misunderstanding of the value of the relationship. The potential losses are significant for […]Read More

There is no area in the U.S. where improving health coverage and availability is more urgent than in the Texas-Mexico border, where population growth and disease rates rise, yet the number of physicians and dentists in the health system remains low. How to address these needs has reached critical importance as the federal government debates […]Read More

An introduction to the the IC² Institute's work in Latin America.Read More

Any strong regional economy is built on the success of its educational system, both secondary and postsecondary. The Central Texas Student Futures project is providing a new comprehensive, longitudinal study of high school graduates. This project combines surveys of high school seniors with administrative records to produce a new stream of data that benchmarks regional […]Read More

Among the U.S. states, Texas has been at the forefront of globalization, which is characterized by the international flow not only of goods and services but also human and financial capital. A key factor in these high marks for globalization has been expanding trade, which has made Texas the top exporting state. Compared with the […]Read More

Do changes in tolls rates affect pedestrian, car, and truck traffic across the bridges between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico? As more and more attention is paid to the use of tolls as funding mechanisms for new road and infrastructure construction in Texas, the answer to this question has policy implications not only for […]Read More

This project, a collaboration between the Bureau of Business Research (BBR) and the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) at The University of Texas at Austin, assesses the socio-economic impact of Texas’ sexually oriented business industry on the Texas economy, analyzes the impact on Texas’ economy of the Adult Entertainment Fee (AEF) imposed […]Read More

States and regions with large numbers of educated workers enjoy many social and economic benefits, including low crime rates, high-technology-based employment, high per-capita income, and high wages. It follows that state policymakers should implement policies that increase the number of educated workers and their job opportunities. This article addresses the issue of post-secondary education and […]Read More

During the 2008-2009 academic year the City of Austin, on behalf of Austin Energy (AE), and Solar Austin co-funded a policy research project to review options for AE to achieve sustainable energy generation and become carbon neutral by 2020. This project developed methods to evaluate future power generation options for their feasibility and cost-effectiveness. The […]Read More

Monterrey, the capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, has historically been considered an industrial city. In the last few years, a major shift has begun to propel the region beyond the confines of physical industrialization and transform it into a knowledge city. In addition to the investments to support new mexican startups, […]Read More

Annual report for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the period 2007-2008. Covers CoLab's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, and Advanced Computing. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for Science […]Read More

The global economy within which Texas' businesses operate is shifting rapidly from a context of resource abundance to a context of resource constrain, leading to growth that is sought through continuous and accelerating resource performance improvements. This global shift unleashes a massive global demand for eco-economic activity and innovation, a trend that affects all fundamental […]Read More

In 2007, the Nuestra Casa program was evaluated by the Texas A&M Department of Landscape, Architecture and Urban Planning, with Dr. Cecilia Giusti as primary investigator. Her final report indicated that Nuestra Casa provides a highly effective model to improve the quality of life for residents along the border. What is more, program funds are […]Read More

An overview of the IC² Institute's history and current activities.Read More

In June 2008, Livable City released the report "Building a More Sustainable Economy: Economic Development Strategy and Public Incentives in Austin," to suggest a path that will help the City of Austin better balance economic growth with long-term improvements in the quality of life for its residents. This article is a summary of that report.Read More

Current technologies for power generation, with some exceptions such as wind turbines and photovoltaic solar cells, rely heavily on the availability of large amounts of water. Primarily this water is needed for cooling thermoelectric plants and supplying fluid pressure and flow for hydroelectric power generation. But in a changing climate, it is not clear whether […]Read More

Payday lending, sometimes known as a cash advance, is a small, short-term, high interest loan that is intended to bridge the borrower's cash flow gap between pay periods. Payday loans are secured by access to the individual's checking account, typically through a postdated check or an automated clearinghouse (ACH) authorization. Available at storefronts and via […]Read More

Critical examination of governance and other socio-economic issues related to rural electrification in India. The report comprises an overview of the power sector in India, with particular attention to Bihar and Jharkhand; a comparative study of rural electrification internationally; a study of the Indian situation using diagnostic analysis, field force analysis, and governance gap analysis, […]Read More

"The Growth of Knowledge-Based Small Firms in Monterrey, Mexico" by Elsie Echeverri-Carroll: Monterrey, in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, long has been known for its large industrial enterprises and heavy industry. Today, however, the city is transitioning to a more knowledge-based economy marked by tech startups and innovation. "Monterrey International City of Knowledge: The […]Read More

This report addresses the question of whether there is a need for a Competitiveness Impact Statement (CIS) attached to proposed legislation in the U.S. A review of the literature on the cost of complying with federal regulations for U.S. businesses, and its effect on U.S. competitiveness, concludes that the lack of reliable data at the […]Read More

The purpose of this study is to report the opinions of 42 water users and stakeholders regarding the future of water quantity and quality in the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB) in Alberta, Canada. The SSRB provides a challenge to sustainability as it is an international watershed draining three Canadian prairie provinces and Montana. This […]Read More

This report examines the changing methodology of groundwater management in Texas by studying the manner in which one Groundwater Management Area (GMA 9 in the Texas Hill Country) complied with new legislative mandates passed in 2005. Texas House Bill (HB) 1763 introduced several changes to groundwater management in Texas. There are 16 groundwater management areas […]Read More

Semiconductors play a key role in clean energy by enabling clean, renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. Semiconductor materials are the basis for solar electric energy systems. Semiconductor devices are also used to condition power from solar arrays and wind turbines so the energy can be used by electric equipment and fed onto the […]Read More

The utility industry in the United States has an opportunity to revolutionize its electric grid system by utilizing emerging software, hardware and wireless technologies and renewable energy sources. As electricity generation in the U.S. increases by over 30% from today’s generation of 4,100 Terawatt hours per year to a production of 5,400 Terawatt hours per […]Read More

The current national and global call for a coordinated and meaningful response to climate change concerns is certain to shift the United States from several regional and voluntary carbon markets today to a global compulsory market in the near future. In addition to the clear environmental benefits, this changing landscape will result in groups of […]Read More

As housing prices slip in many parts of the country, Texas market conditions, in general seem relatively stable. This review of real estate markets around Texas reveals that Texas, especially in relation to other states in the country that have been much harder hit, has so far weathered the real estate storm in good shape.Read More

Annual report for the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab) for the year 2007. Covers CoLab's educational, research, and outreach activities in Portugal and Austin in its programs in Digital Media, Mathematics, and Advanced Computing. CoLab is a joint program of the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Portuguese Foundation for Science […]Read More

Annual report covering the 2007 activities of the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN). UTEN is a technology commercialization program of the UT Austin|Portugal Program (CoLab), administered by the IC² Institute of the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Read More

With pressure from a softening housing market and tightening credit conditions, the national economy is at greater risk for recession than it has been since 2001. The Texas economy could have been expected to show signs of fatigue this year, especially after relatively robust growth in 2005 and 2006. Yet despite the gloomy national economic […]Read More

Both the state of Texas and the city of Austin have pursued a cluster-based approach to economic development. Since 2004, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (GACC) has raised $14 million in private funds through its "Opportunity Austin" campaign to finance a five-year economic development effort targeting nine industry clusters. The attention and momentum generated […]Read More

Report on the economic potential of the solar energy industry in Texas.Read More

As the world turns to clean energy sources, Texas has a strategic opportunity to expand its traditional energy leadership capacity into solar power. This article is the second in a two-part series examining the photovoltaics (PV) industry in Texas. The first article, published in April 2007, focused on the potential benefits of expanded reliance on […]Read More

Report prepared for the Moncton Technology Planning Group, Moncton, NB, Canada. It emphasizes the importance of having common visions and action plans to mobilize key local partnerships.Read More

Why isn't Texas – with its natural solar endowment, semi-conductor expertise, energy business talent, and scientific leadership – a national and global leader in the solar industry? This two-part TBR article establishes the economic, public policy, and technological rationale for supporting the photovoltaics (PV) industry across the state. The first article, presented here, examines where […]Read More

Two reports on the economic and workforce effects of Hurricane Katrina, aging workforce and related factors on NASA's Space Shuttle Program efforts along the Gulf Coast. The research was conducted by a joint team from the Ray Marshall Center and the IC² Institute and is based on field interviews, focus groups and surveys. The reports […]Read More

Economic development in Oklahoma and Texas has often involved one state's efforts to snatch companies from the other. When competing against one another, the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry could sometimes become blood sport. However, leaders from both sides of the Red River realized the advantages that comes with economic cooperation. So they resolved to ford the river […]Read More

Report on the potential for industrial development of geologic sequestration of CO₂ in the Texas Gulf Coast region. Funded in part by the IC² Institute.Read More

Report prepared for the Moncton Technology Planning Group, Moncton, NB, Canada. It emphasizes the importance of having common visions and action plans to mobilize key local partnerships.Read More

This publication presents the results of a policy research project conducted during the 2006-2007 academic year that examined the availability of health coverage for U.S. retirees in Mexico. The project surveyed more than 1,000 retirees in Mexico, and students visited five retirement locations in Mexico. The students also researched Medicare and TRICARE and developed information […]Read More

This report describes and assesses policies for management of used oil in both the U.S. and Mexico, with particular focus on the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez area. The report begins with an evaluation of Texas’s used oil management system, from the relevant used oil legislation through the resultant data reporting system to used oil management practices. […]Read More

This report examines the waste tire problem along the Texas-Mexico border and explores the possibility of evaluating aerial imagery in GIS-based software in order to identify clandestine tire piles. Remote sensing technologies are promising for the continued effort to recycle discarded tires in Texas and Northern Mexico. However, the report finds that the use of […]Read More

“Impact Assessment of the State of Texas Advanced Research Program” evaluated 1312 basic research projects funded at Texas universities since 1987. Economic impacts from principal investigators were compiled, and information was developed about the program’s ability to attract exceptional students to higher educational institutions and to retain these students as productive members of the state’s […]Read More

In 1907, the Texas Legislature responded to the needs of Texas farmers by establishing the Department of Agriculture to better coordinate agricultural policy and services. Now, 100 years later, it is time for a similar response on behalf of Texas manufacturers. To remain competitive, Texas needs to develop the skills, technologies, and access to markets […]Read More

The Texas Population Projections and Estimates Program in the Texas State Data Center and The Office of the State Demographer in the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio recently released revised post-2000 Census population projections for the State of Texas and all counties in the State for […]Read More

Texas faces the challenge of maintaining and growing its capacity to innovate at a time when global competitors are aggressively pursuing markets that have generated economic success for Texas companies in the recent past. Thus, the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI), a university/private/public venture was established to spur innovation, collaboration, and competitiveness in the region among […]Read More

Cameron County, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico face the Rio Grande River where it meets the Gulf of Mexico; it is a place of natural beauty and agricultural strength. The region has a strong economic and cultural heritage, established educational assets and a rapidly growing bi-literate workforce. Right now, the border region is at a crossroads […]Read More

At the state level, the majority of Texas’ trade historically has been, and continues to be, with Mexico. Texas and Mexico have leveraged their common border to establish a relationship that shapes local economies and policies on both sides. But what will happen to both economies as China continues its ascendance as a global economic […]Read More

As the Texas economy continues its expansion from the 2001 recession, the need for seed and growth capital for young companies is intense. A new funding program addresses this need, authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2001 and implemented in 2005. The Texas Certified Capital Company Program provides alternative sources of venture capital to Texas […]Read More

Report on the importance of manufacturing to the Texas economy and on proposals to create a Secretary of Manufacturing to promote manufacturing in Texas.Read More

In 1987, the state legislature appropriated funds for applied research to diversify the state’s economy through the Texas Advanced Technology Program (ATP). These funds targeted projects to educate the state’s scientists and engineers, create new products and production processes, and contribute to the application of science and technology to state businesses. One component of the […]Read More

Shoppers around the world cross borders from one country in order to shop in another. In fact, shopping is increasingly recognized as a primary motive for international travel. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Texas-Mexico border. A report on the Mexican market, prepared for the Texas Economic Development Tourism Division, identified Texas as […]Read More

As government seeks to hold the line on broad-based tax rates, some departments and agencies have implemented market-based activities as a means to maintain and expand public services. Two entrepreneurial success stories can be found in the voluntary programs of Austin Energy and the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). These market-based activities […]Read More

Rich natural resources, abundant land, a central location within the United States, and a business-friendly environment have long attracted both immigrants and U.S. natives to Texas. As a result, the state has grown faster, with a younger and more diverse population, than the nation. The key challenge Texas faces now is to reduce the economic […]Read More

Spring 2005 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics awarded to IC² Institute Fellow Finn Kydland; appointment of 18 Endowed Research Fellows; and news from Fellows Rob Adams, Debra Amidon, William Cunningham, David Eaton, David Gibson, Fumio Itoh, Michael Hough, George Huber, Kenneth Preiss, David Smith, […]Read More

The State of Texas invests in higher education in order to develop the human capital of the state. These investments result in a large number of benefits, including increased productivity, earning gains, market entry of products and services, and many more. Three major areas of impact of having a University of Texas institution in the […]Read More

“Impact Assessment of the State of Texas Advanced Technology Program” evaluated 1850 applied research projects funded at Texas universities since 1987. Economic impacts from principal investigators and private sector partners were compiled, university administrative officials and venture capitalists were interviewed regarding commercialization of university research and development, and recommendations were prepared for potential changes in […]Read More

In 2004, Mexican immigrants in the United States sent a record of $16.6 billion dollars to their relatives in Mexico. Cross-border consolidation of banks has created the opportunity for migrants to send money home at no cost. However, most migrants do not choose this cost-free option of sending money home. This is due to the […]Read More

Forecast of the economic impact and educational needs associated with M2M technologies in the state of Texas. M2M stands for "machine to machine" and refers to technologies which enable networking or remote access to devices embedded in physical, chemical and biological systems. The report describes M2M technologies, estimates workforce requirements of the sector, and makes […]Read More

What creates growth in a local economy? Answers to this question have varied markedly over the last forty years. In the 1980s, the revolutionary concept that knowledge, rather than labor and physical capital, was the prime engine of economic growth. This idea prompted policy makers and analysts to associate local economic development with the exchange […]Read More

During the 1990s, the number of Latina small businesses grew by an extraordinary 209 percent. These privately-held, majority-owned businesses accounted for $29.4 billion in receipts and employed nearly 198,000 workers. Research shows that growth rates for Latina entrepreneurs and microentrepreneurs are related to factors unique to the Latino community. What are these factors? And how […]Read More

In recent years, renewable energy has gained ground as a viable future source of energy in the electric industry. Such recognition has been due to the environmentally friendly aspects of renewables resources, federal government incentives and state government mandates, and declining costs due to technological progress. With natural gas price escalating and high volatility of […]Read More

In the early 1990s, the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement, linking Canada, Mexico, and the United States, prompted intense debate. Today, ten years after the agreement took effect, it remains a flash point, much criticized in both Mexico and the United States. Two key complaints have been that many jobs have been lost to […]Read More

The Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) is a $2 billion federal set-aside for small, technology-oriented business development. SBIR funding helps young firms bring their products to market. Texas, despite a richly deserved and growing reputation as a technology hub for business start-ups, lags behind many other states in the rate of participation in this […]Read More

In many developing countries, venture capital investing remains a nascent industry. However, investment in private equity has been picking up in Mexico and throughout Latin America over the past year as investors regain confidence in the region and learn to select deals more wisely. Mexican authorities want to keep investors coming back and to increase […]Read More

This report explores the near-term future of wireless – ubiquitous mobile voice and data communication, with focus on three categories of wireless services and products (existing cellular and PCS services and products; licensed radio spectrum wireless services and products, such as fixed broadband wireless; and unlicensed services and products, such as WiFi hotspots in cafes […]Read More

Forecast of trends in the digital game industry, including economic impact and workforce needs, with recommendations for Texas community and technical colleges.Read More

Feasibility study for the development of an educational, science, and technology park to be located near Belize City, Belize. Includes comparative data on the economic devlopment potential of Belize and other locations in the Caribbean region.Read More

December 2003 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: the IC² Institute Poland Project; the creation of the Kozmetsky Global Collaboratory (KGC) in conjunction with Stanford University; and research news from the Digital Media Collaboratory (DMC).Read More

An increasingly volatile market price for U.S. natural gas, the inadequacy of domestic natural gas reserves, and the continuing development of new natural gas-based electric generation capacity have created a heightened interest in imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), and plans are underway to add more LNG to the U.S. fuel mix. Current projections of the […]Read More

The Mexican in-bond assembly, or maquiladora, manufacturing sector has taken its fair share of lumps in recent years. The industry has experienced a business cycle downturn in the U.S., intermittent border closures, higher tax burdens, fiscal uncertainty, competition from offshore assembly plants in China, and national legislative gridlock. Nevertheless, with double-digit rates of expansion less […]Read More

This report includes a feasibility analysis for establishing an incubator in Cedar Park, Texas, development of a strategy for increasing the number of entrepreneurs, and identification of approaches for cooperation between the community and nearby educational institutions.Read More

Approximately 5.6 million baby boomers live in Texas, comprising 26.9% of the state's population. As this group matures, so does the Texas workforce. This aging trend will significantly affect the state's general workforce and have an even more pronounced impact on the public sector workforce in Texas.Read More

Review of the programs and activities of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) in Moscow, Russia, with recommendations. ISTC is an organization that facilitates commercial occupations for Russian scientists formerly working on weapons of mass destruction.Read More

Developed in 2002 by the Bureau of Business Research (BBR), the Austin Index began as a pilot project to benchmark the economy of the Austin-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The Index uses twenty indicators (measurements) to illustrate Austin's performance today and compares it to that of other leading U.S. high-tech regions. This issue of […]Read More

A major change is underway in the relationship between mainstream financial institutions and the U.S. Latino population. From small independents like Second Federal Savings in Chicago to the nation's largest retail bank, Bank of America, these institutions display an intense and fundamentally new interest in the banking potential of this group. Also governmental and international […]Read More

Report on strategies for economic development in the Austin-San Antonio corridor based on an anticipated convergence of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology.Read More

At the request of Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff in 2002, the Bureau of Business Research (BBR) examined the relationship between credit history and insurance losses in automobile insurance. With the assistance of the leading automobile insurers in Texas, the BBR research team constructed a database of automobile insurance policies from the first quarter of 1998 […]Read More

Over the past decade, the insurance industry has begun using credit histories to create credit scores for individuals who apply for or, sometimes, renew automobile and other insurance policies. Insurers use these scores in rate-making decisions, raising premiums for individuals with poor credit history and lowering premiums for those with good credit history. Additionally, some […]Read More

Study of assets and challenges for knowledge-based economic development in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Includes demographic, economic, and education data for the region, as well as results of a survey of government and business leaders concerning economic development strategy.Read More

The modern corporation is an efficient means of organizing large-scale production because it encourages efficient contracting. The corporate form of organization also facilitates combining the capital from many dispersed investors with the skills of a professional management team. Therefore, it is not necessary for the investors who provide the capital to manage or even understand […]Read More

November 2002 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter.Read More

Overview of clean energy technologies, their economic potential, and the resources making up an emerging clean energy cluster in Central Texas.Read More

"Internet Business Method Patents" by John R. Allison and Emerson H. Tiller: Companies operating over the Internet have aggressively pursued business method patents in recent years. While there has been much criticism about the PTO’s generosity in granting such patents, recent reforms may have curtailed much of the perceived abuse, or at least mollified many […]Read More

Among the projects listed in 1926 for the newly established Bureau of Business Research (BBR) at the University of Texas at Austin was the "issuance of a publication setting forth the economic health of the state." And so began Texas Business Review (TBR) in April 1927. This special 75th anniversary issue hopefully provides an insightful […]Read More

As defined by the World Bank, "e-government" refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that can transform their relations with citizens, businesses, and other areas of government. These technologies offer better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and […]Read More

"Empresarias Decididas: Women Entrepreneurs in the Americas" by Elsie L. Echeverri-Carroll and Daniela Brandazza: Statistics indicated noteworthy increases in the numbers of U.S. and Canadian women entrepreneurs in the 1990s. What factors contributed to this growth? And do these factors also translate into success for their colleagues in Latin America? Also in this issue: "Women […]Read More

Report on a study of strengths and challenges for accelerating technology-based growth and entrepreneurship in San Angelo and the Concho Valley region of Texas, with particular emphasis on the feasibility of a business incubator. Sections of the report are devoted to entrepreneurship, workforce, technology infrastructure, branding, and a benchmarking of regional assets.Read More

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, brought the issue of U.S. border security to the forefront. In the weeks following the attacks, heightened U.S. security measures caused serious delays on the northern and, especially, the southern borders. Increased security will increase the cost of business in […]Read More

Study prepared for the Greater Waco Technology Planning Group to assist in visioning a new economic future for Waco. The Executive Summary, which is prepared as a stand-alone document, is included in the main report along with a section of supporting documents.Read More

In Texas, the entrepreneurial spirit of our people is our most renewable resource. We believe that innovations from Texas entrepreneurs will drive our State’s economic growth in the 21 st century. When it comes to planning for our economic future, we see a choice – continue relying on the serendipitous good fortune that there will […]Read More

The Austin Equity Commission (AEC) was created in May 2000 and charged with building a consensus around a strategic vision for long-range economic prosperity and social equity. Using the Austin Index and the U.S. Census of Population to compare wage and wage inequality data between 1980 and 1990, wage and wage inequality trends in Austin […]Read More

Annual report of the IC² Institute (Innovation, Creativity, and Capital) at The University of Texas at Austin. Programs covered include: Austin Technology Incubator; Cross Border Institute for Regional Development (CBIRD); Emerging Texas Economy; IC² Fellows; IC² Women's Forum; International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation (ICTPI); Master of Science in Science and Technology Commercialization degree […]Read More

Study of assets and challenges for accelerated technology-based growth in Adelaide, South Australia.Read More

Assessment of assets and challenges to the development of a knowledge-based economy in Hidalgo County, Texas, driven by technology industries, second-generation manufacturing, and value-added support services. Includes data on demographics, economy, education, infrastructure, and business activity, as well as a survey of local business leaders on factors affecting economic development.Read More

If all goes as planned, by January 1, 2002, customer choice will have been introduced to most Texans currently served by investor-owned electric utilities. In some other states, like California, the transition to a competitive retail electricity market has proven disastrous. Texas policymakers, however, remain optimistic that they have crafted a successful electricity market restructuring […]Read More

From the days when the oil and cattle industries reigned in Texas to the current dominance of the information technology and manufacturing sectors, the state export environment has been historically rich. The second largest exporter in the U.S., Texas accounts for more than 13% of all U.S. exports and lists third among all states in […]Read More

Computers route actual data packets according to Internet protocol addresses, but these numbers are difficult for people to remember. The domain name system was developed so that easily remembered names, rather than their numeric equivalents, could be used as address locators. With the growth in electronic commerce, the issues surrounding the domain name system (DNS) […]Read More

All over the world, companies increasingly depend on new products and services to spark profit growth and renewal of their assets. One of the main challenges facing executives at these companies is how to apply information technology and the Internet to raise the productivity and increase the return on investment from their product development projects.Read More

Scattered throughout the state budget, these programs surface not only in the Texas Department of Economic Development and the Texas Workforce Commission, but also in agencies as disparate as the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and most institutions of higher education. Historically, economic development efforts in Texas have lacked coordination: […]Read More

Understanding the factors that drive corporate site location decisions is critical to the public officials, economic development professionals, and local leaders responsible for attracting new business locations and expansions to their communities. More than 30 foreign corporations that had recently located in Texas were surveyed. Given the size of this sample and the small number […]Read More

Policymakers in high-technology cities have become increasingly concerned that large segments of their populations are not reaping the benefits of the economic growth associated with these industries. Though it should be noted that our perception of the positive correlation between income inequalities and the growth of high-tech industries result from indirect observations, the data considered […]Read More

In the late 1970s, Texas experienced a remarkable spurt of migration-induced population growth. One of the main reasons for the surge in migration was the much-touted Texas business climate. This part of the Sun Belt was awash in energy and capital: oil prices had tripled. In those days, we considered ourselves the "economic flagship for […]Read More

"A Giant Awakens: The Promises and Challenges of MERCOSUR" by Chandler Stolp: Mercosur (Mercado Comun del Sur, or the Common Market of the South) is the largest trade and investment bloc in the world after the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mercosur offers tremendous opportunities for the future. Nevertheless, […]Read More

Address by Yuji Takagi, General Manager of Mitsui & Co. (USA) Inc., on the future of the Internet industry in the context of Japanese business and consumer culture.Read More

Address by Yuji Takagi, General Manager of Mitsui & Co. (USA) Inc., on the future of the Internet industry in the context of Japanese business and consumer culture.Read More

According to many economic development specialists, cities that support high-tech industries can expect to show higher and longer running rates of growth. Such has been the case in Austin. However, economic growth does not come without a price. The Austin boom has been accompanied by increased pollution and traffic congestion, skyrocketing housing prices, a scarcity […]Read More

High-tech industries are our most strategically important source of new products and processes. These industries generate much, if not most, of the competitive advantages that U.S.-made goods and services enjoy in domestic and international markets. Consequently, news about anything high tech consistently commands the attention of the general public. The latest high-tech story, however, is […]Read More

This report provides an analysis of technology-based entrepreneurship, R&D and university technology transfer, workforce training, financing, and industry clusters, and benchmarks the Canary Islands with other regions and small nations.Read More

This report evaluates the Certified Capital Companies Economic Development Program (CAPCO), an innovative state government program for financing emerging companies in the State of Missouri. Certified capital company programs provide a state tax credit to insurance companies for providing venture capital to start-up and early stage businesses via intermediary firms.Read More

In recent years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has emerged as the largest state agency and, with approximately 40,000 jobs, probably the largest employer of any type in Texas. Most of its employees are correctional officers guarding 144,000 felony offenders – the result of the Texas prison building growth industry. In the midst […]Read More

Daunting air quality problems in Texas have brought state government under increasing public pressure to enact strict controls on air emissions. The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) launched a voluntary emissions reduction (VERPs) program to encourage plants to reduce their emissions. If the program does not produce significant reductions, the legislature will likely subject […]Read More

The increasingly rapid rate of change in technology has been accompanied by an increasingly rapid rate of consumer acceptance and the effects of this new technology on industry have been revolutionary. The main driver of the transition toward a more electronic future is, of course, cost reduction. The expense of information is dropping on two […]Read More

The digital economy is made possible by the World Wide Web is growing at an astounding rate. Digital products can be assembled, customized, and packaged in almost an infinite number of ways to meet changing customer demands for instant delivery. Over time, the sale and transmission of goods and services electronically likely will be the […]Read More

The Workforce Investment Act (Public Law 105-220), signed into law August 7, 1998, represents the culmination of bipartisan efforts to reform the nation’s workforce development programs. On July 1, 1999, Texas began implementing the provisions of this law, one of only a handful of states to do so. Texas was in the vanguard in large […]Read More

Presentation to the Japan Industry and Management of Technology Program (JIMT) on electronic commerce in Japan, how it is different from e-commerce in the US, and the challenges that foreign companies face entering the e-commerce market in Japan.Read More

Traditionally, the U.S. electric utility industry has been subject to a comprehensive system of government regulation. However, in the 1980s, policymakers and economists increasingly questioned the need for regulatory oversight of some utility functions. Particularly in Texas, the potential for competition in the generation of electricity had become greater. Beginning in the mid-1990s, states with […]Read More

Presentation on post-Cold War security issues and international relations in Japan. Delivered to the Japan Industry and Management of Technology Program (JIMT) at The University of Texas at Austin on August 11, 1999.Read More

Explores Japan’s economic predicament and prospects for eventual recovery. Describes the origins of Japan’s economic issues and draws contrasts between Japan and America/Europe in terms of human resources, finance and politics. Offers three schools of thought on what will happen to Japan’s economic predicament in the coming years. Provides five factors justifying optimism: increases in […]Read More

Discusses the tactical decisions firms make in the process of establishing management systems in overseas subsidiaries and their strategic effects on the function of the management system as it relates to organizational learning. Introduces a typology of organizational learning models by analyzing 114 Japanese subsidiaries. Uses the typology to discuss the differences across Japanese multinational […]Read More

As part of the Japan Industry and Management of Technology (JIMT) Speaker Series, discusses the importance of entrepreneurship and new technologies in securing Japan’s full economic recovery from the current economic slump. Describes the history of Japanese entrepreneurship, which experienced a golden age after WWII, and how the rise of large corporations led to less […]Read More

Introduces the economic conditions and high-tech research and development scenarios in post-crisis Asia. Explores challenges and opportunities for American high tech industries. Discusses issues related to doing business with the Japanese and Chinese, including understanding management and the need for better cross-cultural training.Read More

The debate over the value of tax incentives as an economic development tool is primarily based on disagreement over the ability of state and local governments to act rationally and competently to improve the welfare of their residents. The real challenge, then, is to develop decision rules and regulations that would encourage officials to act […]Read More

In the late 1980, it became apparent that Austin’s Robert Mueller Municipal Airport would not be equal to the demands generated by the growth of the city surrounding it. Consequently, in September 1993, Austin voters approved $400 million in revenue bonds to build a new airport at the site of Bergstrom Air Force Base. The […]Read More

Argues that the principal contributor to changes in Japan’s political economy is the decline of Japanese governmental control over capital flows and foreign exchange rates brought about by structural “gaiatsu”, or direct foreign pressure. Differs from previous analysis of gaiatsu by arguing that international capital and market forces generate gaiatsu, not foreign governments, and that […]Read More

The venture capital business is changing, again. Coincident with the rapid evolution of technology and industry, the venture capital business has in its short history, reinvented itself and its image. The number of services has increased and grown more varied. a glimpse into the brief life of the venture industry reveals a business growing in […]Read More

Imagine you are an entrepreneur. You have started a rapidly-growing venture, or at least you have devised a realistic plan for one. after carefully assembling an operating plan, including a detailed budget, you determine that you will need $960,000 to build and run the company for the next year. Where will you find almost a […]Read More

Argues that Japan has the potential to be recognized as a post-Cold War superpower, but has not been able to do so because of a lack of military/nuclear power and its alignment with the U.S. Discusses two security options, developing an offensive-oriented military and creating a new security paradigm based on United Nations–centered security and […]Read More

Remarks on the trend toward corporatism in the U.S. and outlines the latest developments, namely the MAI treaty, and examines how what we know about Japanese business and society does and does not signal what we can expect from increased corporatism in the U.S. Speculates on the effect of the new corporatism of the OECD […]Read More

Argues that there is no micro foundation for microeconomic fluctuations, or business cycles, based on the law of large numbers in probability theory and statistical mechanics. Discusses the Lucas model of rational expectations as inconsistent with the efficient market hypotheses because arbitrage activities in financial markets can eliminate the intertemporal substitution effect to the macro […]Read More

At the beginning of this century, a new advertising industry came of age in the United States. Now, at the turn of the 21st century, new global media and audiences are reshaping this industry and the advertising we see. The next frontier is worldwide, and the new media are as open-ended as cyberspace.Read More

The end of the 20th century finds major U.S. cities in the midst of significant change, precipitated by important economic and demographic trends. first, the foundations of the U.S. economy have definitively shifted away from the blue collar “resource economy” of the Industrial Age into the more problematic “knowledge economy” of the Information Age. Second, […]Read More

Discusses three important questions and issues regarding Japan’s role in global environmental affairs: how the environmental movement has evolved in Japan; what the country’s major environmental policy challenges are on the local-national, regional and global level; and, how Japanese companies are responding to the sustainability challenge. Describes unresolved sustainability questions facing Japan and how the […]Read More

The rapid employment growth of the Mexican in-bond plants, or maquiladoras, lists prominently among the most conspicuous industrial phenomena occurring the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement. In the four years from December 1993 to December 1997, maquiladora employment increased by 71.5%. This recent dramatic growth in maquiladora employment would seem to substantiate […]Read More

Annual report of the IC² Institute (Innovation, Creativity, and Capital) at The University of Texas at Austin. Programs covered include: Agile Aerospace Manufacturing Research; Austin Multimedia Incubator; Austin Technology Incubator; Center for Technological Innovation (CTI) in Charleston, South Carolina; EnterTech Project; IC² Fellows; International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation (ICTPI); Japan Industry and Management […]Read More

Discusses, as an interim report by an academic involved in the emergency policy package to stabilize the Japanese financial system, the objective of the capital injection to 21 banks in March 1998, the merger package and ultimate failure of the Long-term Credit Bank in September 1998 and current policy efforts to reform banks to meet […]Read More

Describes research showing how American brands come to dominate similar market segments in developed and emerging countries. Discusses recent evidence suggesting that product standardization and promotion adaptation, rather than standardization across marketing functions, earn profits worldwide and create value added within nations. Also, discusses new evidence from financial services suggesting that product standardization and price […]Read More

In 1997, a new privatized, government-mandated retirement system came into existence in Mexico. Within this system, private companies called Administradoras de Fondos de Retiro (AFORE) manage pension funds for workers who joined the labor force on or after July 1, 1997. Each worker chooses an AFORE to receive the 6.5% of wages paid by his/her […]Read More

The financial sector promotes a nation’s economic growth and performance. By facilitating the transfer of funds from surplus income units to deficit spending units, financial intermediaries foster expansion of the economic system. But do financial markets and institutions merely facilitate the real forces driving development or do they play a more prominent, causative role in […]Read More

Business services, also called producer services, are intermediate activities that provide inputs for the production of goods or other services, rather than directly serving final consumers. They enhance efficiency and add value at various stages of production processes, both upstream (e.g., research) and downstream (e.g., marketing) of actual physical production. Business service inputs may be […]Read More

Defining “high technology” is not easy. However, one component of defining it has been widely accepted: a high percentage of both R&D expenditures and engineers and scientists. The assumption here is that high-tech industries, because of their innovative nature, spend more on R&D and employ more skilled workers than other industries on average. This article […]Read More

Summer 1998 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: Robert Ronstadt named IC² Institute Director; the Globally Networked Entrepreneurship (GNE) Project; launch of the EnterTech computer-based job skills training program; collaboration with the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon, Portugal.Read More

Technology transfer describes a formal transferring of new discoveries and innovations resulting from scientific research conducted at universities to the commercial sector. This article explores the reason why there has been tremendous growth in technology transfer programs, the benefits and successes of technology transfer, and how technology transfer has impacted universities.Read More

In today’s knowledge-based global economy, intellectual assets often supersede physical assets as the basis of corporate value. Increasingly, companies build their competitive advantage upon a foundation of intellectual assets, and shareholder value has become a direct reflection of the ability to leverage and extract value from the intellectual asset portfolio. Intellectual property assets evolve from […]Read More

Discusses Zero Time, or manipulating time as an independent variable, as critical to any enterprise’s success in the 21st Century. Discusses five disciplines of a Zero Time organization (customer value driven, knowledgization, holonic management, zero resistance and inclusion) and how the disciplines result in instant customerization, meaning the needs of the customer are met as […]Read More

Describes the current state of Japan with an eye on the signs that show where the country is going, and how it may affect foreign businesses. Examines one established industry, aerospace, and one new industry, environmental, and identifies opportunities for American companies.Read More

By some calculations, Texas became a new energy importer in 1991. In that year, the BTU (or heat) value of Texas consumption of petroleum products, natural gas, propane, and renewable energy (wood, wind, and solar) exceeded the BTU value of production of these materials for the first time since oil became the fuel of choice […]Read More

In recent years, public concern for environmental quality, high compliance and disposal costs, and reduction of landfill space has prompted many manufacturers and businesses to consider recycling or selling their wastes and to use recycled materials in their processes or activities. A major concern is finding buyers and sellers for these materials. Enter Waste/Material Exchanges. […]Read More

Argues for changes in the traditional way of viewing economic growth and questions the role that contemporary institutions, specifically universities, play in this process. Shows, empirically, the increasing importance that knowledge is assuming in economic activity in developed countries. Outlines a new conceptual approach to economic growth, in which the accumulation of knowledge acts as […]Read More

Since the late 1980s, the growth of the Austin regional economy has outpaced that of other medium-sized high-tech centers. Austin’s economic expansion was based on four private sector growth drivers: computer and office equipment, electronic and electrical equipment, software, and research and engineering services. Each sector showed rapid employment growth, a strong regional export posture, […]Read More

This project was undertaken to evaluate whether the Texas Manufacturing Institute (TMI) could operate without state appropriated funds. This feasibility study focused on alternative funding sources available to the TMI in lieu of state funding and how the "implementation of alternative funding would affect the mission, structure, and performance of TMI." The TMI is in […]Read More

The Texas Telecommunications Policy Institute on the Texas Poll surveyed a random sample of 1,000 Texans on a quarterly basis in order to understand how people in the state are currently using telecommunications and computers and to explore their attitudes toward deregulation and electronic privacy issues. Survey results suggested that a great deal more work […]Read More

High-technology firms compete globally by bringing products to market quickly and efficiently. In a recent sample of high-technology companies in Texas, 84% reported the introduction of a new process or product during 1994-96. However, only 33% introduced new products and processes faster than their competitors. A key question for policymakers then is: why are most […]Read More

Discusses U.S.-Japanese competitiveness and how it might affect policy and the high-technology industry. Describes Japanese knowledge and spatial networks with a focus on their contribution to innovations. Discusses previous studies on the high-tech industry, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of different criteria used to classify firms as high-tech firms. Discusses an analysis of employment trends […]Read More

In the plenary address to the INFORMS Dallas Fall 2007 conference for Operations Research and Management Sciences (OR/MS), discusses the synergy between OR/MS and digital technology. Describes historically and prospectively the synergy between OR/MS and new disciplines as well as other emerging societies, synergy between OR/MS and the technology chain and the issues and initiatives […]Read More

In a presentation at the Fall 1997 CBA Advisory Dinner, discusses three mega business trends: (1) the transformation of high technology business from U.S. dominance to a global commodity-based industry, (2) the need for transfer of leadership from the public sector to the business sector, and (3) the emergence of the need for digital/knowledge management […]Read More

In this era of the virtual corporation, three Texas cities ranked in the top ten of Fortune magazine's 1995 best places that "serve the evolving workplace": Austin, Dallas, and Houston. This new workplace embraces the "work anywhere, anytime" paradigm – a flexibility, experts insist, facilitated but not dictated by communications technology.Read More

Commercialization of the Internet has been one of the hottest topics around the world in recent years. The growth of this medium and the new capabilities deliverable on the World Wide Web has excited entrepreneurs, transforming some of them into multimillionaires overnight. There has been an explosion of new firms experimenting with “electronic commerce,” or […]Read More

By-product synergy (also known as “green twinning,” “industrial symbiosis,” and “zero waste/zero emissions/100% product emissions”) emphasizes the cooperation among diverse industries, agriculture, and communities that results in profitable conversion of by-products and wastes to resources promoting sustainability. This article examines the case study of Chaparral Steel Company of Midlothian, Texas.Read More

Report on a study of the opportunities for and challenges of incorporating recycled materials in the production processes of twelve important manufacturing industries in Texas, including, among others, the primary and fabricated metal, computer and electronics, and printing and paper industries.Read More

In a presentation to the Southern Growth Policy Board’s 1997 Conference on the Future of the South, argues that partnership, including Public Private Partnerships, for the 21st century needs to be about winning combinations. Describes the change in resources that generate, prosperity, jobs and meaningful futures from natural endowments and geographic location to advanced technologies […]Read More

Examination of whether Texas has become a new importer of energy resources. The answer depends on the method of comparison, by heating value or economic value.Read More

Examination of the production potential and demand in Texas for renewable energy from three sources: solar photovoltaic cells, wind and bioenergy.Read More

Discusses Japan’s Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) initiative, an international research program in manufacturing technology with the goal of developing a next-generation production system to maximize efficiency by integrating the entire range of business activity from order-booking through design, manufacture and distribution. Examines the role of techno-nationalism, foreign pressure, and scientific and technical factors in motivating […]Read More

Discusses the significance of the Japanese government’s role in the development of fax technology as a good model of how governments can influence the agents shaping technology. Describes how the Japanese government’s push on domestic fax manufacturers and telephone companies in the 1970s to create a common standard lead to the fax boom of the […]Read More

Discusses the opportunity for change in Japan towards a more gender-equitable system. Describes the role of women in Japan’s industrialization and development of its peculiar management system. Discusses the legal, corporate and external framework for workforce equality. Explains the role of the 1997 U.N. conference on women in Beijing in helping to spur on the […]Read More

Discusses management and technical staff’s extensive use of visual images in the control system of Japanese factories to structure information so that everyone may understand the plan, execute it, identify errors and solve any problems related to performance gaps. Describes the control system, the plan-do-see (PDS) cycle, and the crucial role visual communications play in […]Read More

Discusses generational road maps and commercialization of science and technology. Describes the current lack of clear-cut generally acceptable road maps, formal or informal, and the changes facing all five basic dimensions of society – economic, political, social, cultural and scientific/technological. Argues for the development of stronger linkages between academia, business and government as well as […]Read More

A study of resources and opportunities for technology-based economic development in Charleston, South Carolina. The study draws on interviews and a survey of managers of technology-intensive enterprises and public-sector institutions in the Charleston area conducted in June 1996.Read More

In a commencement address to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, describes the current lack of clear-cut generally acceptable road maps, formal or informal, for dealing with societal challenges and opportunities. Argues that audience members should, at an appropriate time, prepare themselves to accept […]Read More

Discusses a new trend among Japan’s giant electronics and telecommunications companies and ministries: a concerted effort to develop a multimedia society like the one growing in the U.S. Describes efforts by Japanese computer and electronics conglomerates to promote multimedia by creating multimedia divisions, acquiring new media technology through joint ventures, and shifting from hardware to […]Read More

Fall 1995 newsletter of the IC² Center for Commercialization and Enterprise ("C²E") at The University of Texas at Austin. Reports on activities of the IC² Institute's economic development programs including the Austin Technology Incubator, the NASA Johnson and NASA Ames Technology Commercialization Centers, and the Austin Software Council.Read More

Fall 1994 newsletter of the IC² Center for Commercialization and Enterprise ("C²E") at The University of Texas at Austin. Reports on activities of the IC² Institute's economic development programs including the Austin Technology Incubator, the NASA Johnson and NASA Ames Technology Commercialization Centers, and the Austin Software Council.Read More

Study of the economic impact of the University of Texas System, using three approaches: assessment of the rates of return on investment in human and knowledge capital; estimation of the size of the System's total economic activity and its net expansion effect; and identification of community benefits resulting from the medical, continuing education, cultural and […]Read More

Summer 1994 issue of the IC² Institute newsletter. Topics in this issue include: President Bill Clinton awards National Medal of Technology to IC² Institute Director George Kozmetsky; Austin Technology Incubator is named national Incubator of the Year; Institute Fellows hold Breakthrough Workshops; expansion of activities with Brazil; the Japan Industry and Management of Technology program […]Read More

This report uses survey data on current and prospective members of the Texas Capital Network to discuss and contrast the characteristics of private and institutional investor respondents in terms of funding amounts and preferences. The report is organized as follows: a brief overview of the U.S. venture capital industry, survey methodology and characteristics of respondents, […]Read More

Winter 1993-1994 newsletter of the IC² Center for Commercialization and Enterprise ("C²E") at The University of Texas at Austin. Reports on activities of the IC² Institute's economic development programs including the Austin Technology Incubator, the NASA Johnson and NASA Ames Technology Commercialization Centers, and the Austin Software Council.Read More

Summary of a strategic plan by the Austin Software Council (ASC) to stimulate development of the Austin, Texas software industry. Reviews the history of the ASC; identifies stakeholders in Austin from government, university, and industry; describes a network of strategic directions to achieve the larger goal of economic development; relates the strategy to the “technopolis […]Read More

Report on the Fifth Generation Computer Systems (FGCS) project undertaken by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in the period 1982-1992. The Fifth Generation Computer was developed using a framework of parallel processing and inference processing based on logic programming. The project received an investment of ¥54.15 billion ($416.54 million) and employed […]Read More

Report benchmarking the demographics, infrastructure, business and technology characteristics of Austin area software development firms in 1993. Includes a timeline of Austin's development as a technology center and a directory of 359 software firms in the region.Read More

Discusses the nature of committed and determined costs in a new product development project, and quantifies their relationship to project uncertainty. Introduces the concept of product, process, schedule and market (PPSM) intelligence and emphasizes its use for jointly considering marketing and production factors in project evaluation. Uses a discriminate function-based measure of information gain to […]Read More

Case study of the successful commercialization of a new rapid prototyping process, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), developed at The University of Texas at Austin and licensed in 1987-88 to the startup DTM Corp.Read More

Report prepared in 1992 for Travis County and City of Austin officials considering the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan, a habitat conservation plan for the black-capped vireo, golden-cheeked warbler, six karst invertebrates, and two plant species. The research evaluated the comparative effects on Austin’s and Travis County’s future economic development, property values, and government tax revenue […]Read More

Report to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on phase 1 of a study on workstations in education and training. The report considers the benefits of computer-assisted education and training; advances in the capabilities of workstation hardware and networks forecasted for the year 2000; the state of the art in education software; and constraints which […]Read More

Working paper developed from a lecture presented in Seoul about the role of Korea in the New World Order. Summarizes the historical background of the concept of a New World Order and its evolution after the Gulf War of 1990-91. Describes the fundamental issue behind the New World Order as whether the global diffusion of […]Read More

Exploratory study to report on the current status of Austin's technology-based manufacturing industries, to identify emerging technologies that may be important to the Austin economy, and to provide a perspective on the technology-based industries that may be significant to Austin in the 1990s. The report includes timelines for company relocations, expansions, and foundings in technology […]Read More

This report reviews the economic feasibility of a new, privately financed, intercity rail passenger service in Texas. It assesses the "Texas Triangle High Speed Rail" study (TTA study), and the two technical volumes supporting it, issued by the Texas Turnpike Authority in February 1989. The review concentrates on various aspects relating to the economics of […]Read More

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is extended to the case of stochastic inputs and outputs through the use of chance-constrained programming. The chance-constrained envelope envelops a given set of observations "most of the time." We show that the chance-constrained enveloping process leads to the definition of a conventional (certainty-equivalent) efficiency ratio (a ratio between weighted outputs […]Read More

The purpose of this document is to describe and to propose research into the process of technology transfer between universities and industry. When examined as a process, technology transfer refers to the effective exchange of technical information among scientists and engineers as individuals, groups, or representatives of institutions or companies. In high tech, R&D technology […]Read More

Explores the interplay of geopolitical, economic, geological and operational factors that may disrupt the gradual upwards shift of the supply price of non-replenishable resources, specifically oil and natural gas. Describes the econometric identification of the supply price curve for oil and gas in the U.S. using two alternative independent variables: total footage drilled and number […]Read More

A response to the book "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" by Paul Kennedy (1987).Read More

Examination of the factors contributing to the development of the Austin/San Antonio corridor as a high-technology center in the years 1945-1986. The paper uses a conceptual framework called the Technopolis Wheel, which identifies seven segments as fundamental in regional high-tech growth: university, large and small technology companies, state-local-and federal government, and support groups (e.g. chambers […]Read More

To better understand the development of high technology industry in Texas, this monograph compares the high-technology industrial composition of Texas with that of California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Chapters examine interstate differences in high-technology industrial development by comparing (1) recent shifts in high-technology industry mix, (2) size distribution of firms, and (3) measures of locational […]Read More

The effects of the past quarter century of deregulation on the transportation industry in the United States are many and varied. Impacts have been felt at the level of the industry as a whole, at the level of mode-based industry sub-groups, and at the level of individual firms. Analyses and depictions of these impacts have […]Read More

The authors call for the state of Texas to meet 25% of its need for new job creation through technology venturing, which they estimate to be 42,500 jobs per year or 820,000 new jobs over twenty years. In order to achieve this goal, they propose a number of measures: the expansion of Federal defense R&D […]Read More

Recent history and future trends of leadership roles for women, as well as the author's guidelines for women leaders. Speech delivered to the Amarillo Women's Network in Amarillo, Texas on May 17, 1983.Read More

This study analyses energy consumption and production for each state in the U.S. The data in the analysis were collected for three time periods – 1960, 1974 and 1978. The study determines the changes that have taken place in energy production and consumption during the time periods among the fifty states. The two time intervals […]Read More

This monograph is intended as a practical guide to business applications of the theory of discrimination information statistics as developed by Kullback (1959) and Charnes and Cooper (1975 et seq.). A guide to modeling and computation methods is presented, with references to published applications and a discussion of their implications for business and planning. These […]Read More

A two-phase model for venture capital portfolio selection and management is presented. The portfolio selection phase of the model, based on data collected in a 1974 study of 140 venture capital firms and 368 venture capital investments, permits the computation of an investment multiple and a target rate of return, both of which are adjusted […]Read More

Extending Liles' work in the development of an effective "enabling strategy," the author has formulated a set of 20 operating guidelines for effective venture capital funds management. The guidelines presented in this paper are the result of a detailed study of 368 venture capital investments which were analyzed along three critical investment parameters. These parameters […]Read More

A multiperiod mixed integer linear programming model is proposed as a guide to the urgent expansion of the production and interregional distribution of American coal. The model, run under various scenarios of resource costs and governmental restrictions, should serve as an indicator of the possible performance of the industry, a guide to effective legislation, and […]Read More

Forecast of the impact of new information technologies on management in the period 1971-1990. Summarizes and extends three studies commissioned by the Conference Board in 1970.Read More

Report on the benefits associated with activities and resources of Galveston Bay. Aggregates data from a variety of sources on the economic value of the Galveston Bay waters in three sectors: (1) recreation, (2) natural resources, and (3) industry and commerce. Prepared by the Bureau of Business Research for the Galveston Bay Project of the […]Read More