The U.S.-Mexico Border Is Booming

Forget about the Asian Tigers and Benelux. The Next Economic Powerhouse Is Where the North and South Converge

Mexico is becoming a vibrant middle-class nation. Already, it is the largest trading partner of California, Texas and Arizona, and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs across the Southwest.

And that might be just the beginning. With economic and educational reforms underway, Mexico’s rise could accelerate. By one estimate, Mexico will be the world’s fifth largest economy by 2050.

Yes, Mexico faces serious problems of corruption and violence at home. But the country is also investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and transportation near the border. That is …

June 4, 2015

Phoenix Is a Survivor

This City in the Sonoran Desert Is an Old Hand at Grappling with Its Thirst for Water and Electricity

by Joe Mathews | June 3, 2015

The fact that people question Phoenix’s existence has been good for the city. That was the headline lesson from Tuesday night’s Zócalo/ASU College of Public Service & Community Solutions event, …

Here Are the Biggest Reasons Why the Southwest Keeps Expanding

Phoenix and Other Cities in the Region Have Flourished, Thanks to Dams, Clean Government, and Just Plain Good Timing

May 30, 2015

In places where the average temperature climbs to 105 degrees in July, it’s easy to understand the importance of air conditioning. Was it cooler and more comfortable living that drew …

Whose Colorado River Is It?

Dividing Up a Single Water Source Among 30 Million People—and Leaving Some for Nature—Is a Tricky Business

by Sarah Rothbard | January 22, 2015

Over 30 million people rely on the Colorado River for water—for purposes ranging from drinking to agriculture to power plants. But scientists predict that the river isn’t going to produce …

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