Robert W. Gilmer uses a new analytical technique to explain why longtime rivals Dallas and Houston can coexist less than 250 miles apart. This new technique permits an unusually complete analysis of the role of services in the growth of cities. The analysis focuses on distinguishing services...

This has been a disappointing year for El Paso in terms of job growth. Through October, the city added only 1,200 new wage and salary jobs, according to seasonally adjusted data, an annualized growth rate of less than 1 percent. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at a...