The Future of Texas
Good morning. We look at Texas’ big economic strengths and a threat to its future.
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Oil drilling rigs in West Odessa, Texas, last month.Credit.Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times
You can make a case that the U.S. state with the brightest long-term economic future is Texas.
It’s a more affordable place to live than much of the Northeast or West Coast and still has powerful ways to draw new residents, including a thriving cultural scene, a diverse population and top research universities. Its elementary schools and middle schools perform well above average in reading and math (and notably ahead of California’s), according to the Urban Institute.