Population Decline and the New Economics of Cities
Table of Contents
Author(s)
Bill King
Fellow in Public FinanceDavid M. Satterfield
Director, Baker Institute for Public Policy | Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public PolicyAbout the Episode
As cities around the world confront slower population growth, aging populations, and shifting migration patterns, policymakers are rethinking long-standing assumptions about economic development, infrastructure, and public investment.
Ambassador David M. Satterfield speaks with Baker Institute fellow Bill King about the global reality of depopulation and what it could mean for the future of urban life. Using Houston as a case study, they examine how these demographic shifts are affecting schools, tax bases, housing, transportation, and long-term planning in one of America’s fastest-growing cities.
This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience on Feb. 24, 2026.
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