Research Library

Despite expanded drilling efforts, Russia’s oil production continues to decline, deepening the economic strain of the war with Ukraine and sanctions. In this brief, Gabriel Collins explores how reduced oil output could weaken Russia’s global influence and reshape the economic and geopolitical foundations of its foreign policy.

Executive Summary

Efforts to reduce plastic production through bans, production caps, or limitations to advanced recycling…

As global attention turns toward the next World Cup, questions about the relationship between sports, politics, and national image are receiving renewed attention. In this report, Vedant Khadiya and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen explore the concept of sportswashing — the practice of using sports to divert attention from alleged ethical concerns. The report examines how sportswashing has been defined and assessed across academic and media discourses, calling for further research into its real-world impacts and effectiveness as a tool of soft power.

In this episode, Heidi Russell speaks with Charles W. Mathias about the connection between pediatric nutrition and healthcare financing and the alignment of Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC in supporting children’s health in Texas.

In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” Heidi Russell discusses a new Baker Institute report on major healthcare policy changes during the Trump administration’s first year and what those shifts could mean for patients, providers, states, and the future of public health in the United States.

John W. Diamond examines the latest Social Security trustees report, arguing that demographic change, lower immigration, rising federal debt, and fiscal constraints are increasing pressure on the program's long-term finances and narrowing the range of available reform options.

In this episode, Heidi Russell speaks with Quianta Moore about how public policy can strengthen childhood resilience through early intervention and improved access to mental health care in schools and communities.

In this episode, Heidi Russell speaks with Elena M. Marks and Anna Chatillon about the Thriving Texas Families program.

In this episode of “Baker Briefing,” Vivian Ho and Marah Short examine differences in health insurance premiums across Texas universities and the factors driving variation in the cost of coverage.

Predictability is essential for investment & supply chains, yet the 2026 USMCA review faces major hurdles. In a new commentary for the Claudio X. González Center for the US and Mexico, fellow David A. Gantz examines how U.S. trade priorities, policy volatility, and institutional erosion undermine regional stability.