30 research outputs found
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Campus Sexual Assaults Are Economically Traumatic for Victims
Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA
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Texas is getting serious about stopping sex trafficking, but we need more resources
Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA
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Survey of Texas Black-owned Businesses
Report on the state of black-owned businesses in Texas, based on 2010 Census data and a statewide survey of black business owners conducted in 2013. The demographic portion of the study found that the number of black-owned businesses in Texas grew faster in the early 2000s than the state average for all businesses, but the vast majority of black-owned businesses in Texas were small, with no paid employees other than the owner. In sales and number of employees, black-owned businesses lagged behind state averages. In their survey responses, a majority of black business owners indicated they felt they had the education and skills needed to succeed. They saw room for improvement in the areas of political access and contracting opportunities.Bureau of Business Researc
Human Trafficking by the Numbers: The Initial Benchmark of Prevalence and Economic Impact for Texas
Prevalence HighlightsCurrently, there are approximately 79,000 minor and youth victims of sex trafficking in Texas.Currently, there are approximately 234,000 workers who are victims of labor trafficking in Texas.Currently, there arean estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas.Cost HighlightsMinor and youth sex trafficking costs the state of Texas approximately 600 million from victims of labor trafficking in Texas.BackgroundThough human trafficking is widespread in geographically large states with large urban centers like Texas, the true scope of this hidden crime is largely unconfirmed as data on human trafficking are difficult to ascertain. Existing data gathered in anti-trafficking efforts focus almost exclusively on identified victims, shedding light on only a fraction of the problem. The first phase of the Statewide Human Trafficking Mapping Project of Texas focused on providing empiricallygrounded data as a benchmark about the extent of human trafficking across the state. The following three primary research questions guided our data collection efforts, which included queries of existing databases, interviews, focus groups, and web-based surveys.1.What is the prevalence of human trafficking in Texas?2.What is the economic impact of human trafficking in Texas?3.What is our understanding of human trafficking in Texas?MethodsThe findings in this report were derived using a multi-methods approach to quantify the prevalence and economic impact of human trafficking in Texas. Higher-than-average risk industry and community segments were chosen for sex and labor markets. We defined community segments asgroups of people considered to be at higher-than-average risk of trafficking because of risk indicators found in trafficking cases (e.g. homelessness). More specifically, rather than attempting to establish prevalence of trafficking among the 27.4 million people living in Texas, for the purposes of demonstrating our methodology, establishing some benchmarks on human trafficking prevalence and economic impact estimates, and providing a concrete example of our planned activities moving forward, victimization rates were applied to a select few community segments that are at higher-than-average risk of trafficking.The methodology has addressed the critical industry and community segments to accurately estimate prevalencewhile reducing overlap between the chosen segments
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Rethinking Supply Chains as Neighborhoods
This paper explores the implication of a neighborhood model for interfirm interactions that explicitly tries to create an equality matching relationship among firms in an industry. The aim is to examine what would happen if these firms worked to gain trust with each other with an eye toward maximizing the value of the collaboration across projects rather than just maximizing revenues in individual projects. A review of extant literature and an analysis of in-depth interviews yielded three actionable strategies that support the creation of a sustainable neighborhood in the construction industry: 1) Hub Strategy, 2) Trust Exercise Strategy, and 3) Sustainable Neighborhood Strategy. As envisioned in this study, the hub is a concentrated, inter-organizational structure for supply chain participants in large, complex projects. Importantly, hub members engage in a variety of technical activities that infuse ongoing and future projects with innovation, scope optimization, and operational efficiencies. Additionally, other activities within the hub are designed to purposefully allow participants to develop trust through collaboration before or outside of their primary contractual engagements. At present, this model has been examined for construction megaprojects, but the general neighborhood concept could be applied to many different industries and settings including manufacturing supply chains and collaborations among communities engaging in economic development. Future work will explore whether mechanisms like the hub and trust exercises can be applied in these other settings as well.IC2 Institut
The Connection between Entrepreneurial Intentions and Community Member Priorities for Asset-Based, Sustainable Development to Improve Well-Being
This chapter analyzes survey data collected from 5487 residents across 85 communities in Texas, USA, ranging from rural areas to large urban centers. Our analysis examines the impact of a community’s degree of urbanity and rurality, as well as individual factors such as social position, values, and satisfaction with local assets, on their economic and quality-of-life development project preferences. We argue that community development processes should take a broader, multicriteria approach that considers a range of factors impacting community needs and well-being. Our findings demonstrate the viability of this human-centered approach, highlighting the opportunity to direct societal capitals toward enhancing well-being within various systems. We analyze six community development project concepts, including renovations to downtown buildings, opening a community health center, deploying high-speed internet, enhancing public libraries, offering early-college-credit programs, and creating a co-working and startup space. Our study shows that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to community development, and participatory processes can guide collaboration between experts and community members. We find that entrepreneurial intention can positively or negatively impact community development concepts and should be considered as part of a well-being strategy. However, social governance structures, both governmental and non-governmental, need to address common-cause aspects of well-being such as community health and education
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“To the Public, Nothing was Wrong with Me”: Life Experiences of Minors and Youth in Texas At Risk for Commercial Sexual Exploitation
This study describes child sex trafficking in three regions across Texas using empirically grounded qualitative and quantitative research methods. It is intended to expand the body and depth of knowledge that can that can help anti-trafficking professionals better identify individuals at risk for, or experiencing, child sex trafficking.
The report explores the life experiences of individuals – both young adults and minors, ages 13-27 years – who are survivors of child sex trafficking in three regions of Texas: Houston, Lubbock, and the Texas-Mexico border region. It provides data and analysis on the prevalence of trafficking and exploitation within communities at high risk for victimization. The study examines specific experiences of minor and youth sex trafficking survivors, including risk factors, push/pull factors, help-seeking behaviors, and reasons for multiple exits and re-entries into trafficking and/or exploitative situations.Office of the Texas Governor, Criminal Justice DivisionBureau of Business Researc
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Survey of Texas Hispanic-owned Businesses with Paid Employees
This report analyzes a survey of 2,811 Texas Hispanic-owned firms with paid employees conducted in 2011. The findings presented here build on results from the 2007 Survey of Business Owners (U.S. Census Bureau) and identify challenges to growth among Texas Hispanic-owned firms with employees. These firms were responsible for the vast majority of economic activity (sales, employment) among Texas Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007, despite representing only 9 percent of all Hispanic-owned businesses in Texas. Key findings reported in the study include the importance of the need for management and leadership training among the owners and their employees; the need for communication training; and the need for improved access to public- and private-sector customers. Case studies of individual companies illustrate the survey findings.Bureau of Business Researc
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Check the Score: Credit Scoring and Insurance Losses: Is There a Connection?
Over the past decade, the insurance industry has begun using credit histories to create credit scores for individuals who apply for or, sometimes, renew automobile and other insurance policies. Insurers use these scores in rate-making decisions, raising premiums for individuals with poor credit history and lowering premiums for those with good credit history. Additionally, some insurers may use credit scores in underwriting procedures, including placement of policyholders within groups. So is there a connection between credit history and the potential to incur insurance loss? In examining the relationship between credit scoring and loss history, researchers must first determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between the two and whether or not the information contained in the credit score "new" information is already used for pricing the insurance.IC2 Institut
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Talking About Texas: Texas Business Review and 75 Years of Change
Among the projects listed in 1926 for the newly established Bureau of Business Research (BBR) at the University of Texas at Austin was the "issuance of a publication setting forth the economic health of the state." And so began Texas Business Review (TBR) in April 1927. This special 75th anniversary issue hopefully provides an insightful and enjoyable look back that will perhaps enhance our view on where the twenty-first century is going.IC2 Institut