Study finds employer health insurance costs have tripled relative to employee pay since 1999
A new Rice University study examines how the cost of employer-provided health insurance and the consumer price index have changed over the past 25 years to help explain why insurance premiums continue to rise and are becoming increasingly difficult for families to afford.
US elections in review: Carter Center and Baker Institute examine 25th anniversary of Bush v. Gore
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Carter Center hosted their fifth annual elections conference Dec. 8 that focused on the 25th anniversary of the presidential race of George W. Bush v. Al Gore.
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy has received a landmark $7.5 million gift from entrepreneur Claudio X. González, the largest individual contribution in the institute’s 32-year history. The gift endows and renames the institute’s leading research hub on U.S. and Mexico relations as the Claudio X. González Center for the United States and Mexico. The naming honors González’s long-standing leadership and generosity in promoting collaboration, understanding and shared prosperity across North America.
The Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy has released its Mexico Country Outlook 2026, an annual forecast examining the major political, economic and social trends shaping Mexico in the year ahead. The data can provide a strategic edge to investors, businesses and policymakers as they navigate Mexico’s complex, ever-evolving political and regulatory landscape.
Rice’s Baker Institute and The Carter Center to host annual elections conference in Houston
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and The Carter Center will co-host their fifth annual elections conference, “25 Years After Bush v. Gore: Contested Elections Then and Now,” Dec. 8 at Rice in Houston.
Rice launches Brain Institute to accelerate discoveries in brain science and health
Rice has announced the creation of the Rice Brain Institute, an ambitious, interdisciplinary hub that unites faculty members across campus, including engineering, natural sciences and social sciences, to tackle one of humanity’s most complex and promising frontiers: the brain.
Rice, BCarbon join forces with Mexican state government to build community-driven carbon market
Representatives from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, Earth Carbon and the nonprofit BCarbon met at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy last month to sign a memorandum of understanding recognizing their collaboration in carbon sequestration. Since then, Since then, in accord with an MOU between BCarbon and Rice, the team has been in Mexico meeting with stakeholders and changemakers to create a carbon market that benefits the community.
Rice's Ken Kennedy Institute hosted the fourth annual AI in Health Conference, convening over 550 attendees across the four-day event for plenary speaker sessions, networking and workshops that explored key areas for artificial intelligence-driven advancement across health and public health domains.
Rice’s Baker Institute appoints Russell as senior fellow and director of Center for Health Policy
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy has named Dr. Heidi Russell as the director of the Center for Health Policy. She is also appointed as the L.E. and Virginia Simmons Senior Fellow in Health Policy and the Huffington Fellow in Child Health Policy. She will step into these roles at the Baker Institute Oct. 13.
Rice plants new oak tree to celebrate German-American friendship
The Berlin Wall section in front of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is now joined by a new oak tree as a symbol of German-American friendship and solidarity from the Goethe-Institut Houston.
Gov. Abbott issues order to ban minors from THC products
An expert in drug policy from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is available to explain and comment on today’s executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on hemp-derived THC products.
Inflation-adjusted CEO pay in nonprofit hospitals increased from roughly $1 million to $1.3 million between 2012 and 2019, and the greatest pay increases went to CEOs who grew the profits and size of their health care organizations the most, according to new research from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Science’s vital role in American innovation examined at Baker Institute
U.S. Representative Dr. Brian Babin (R-Texas 36) spoke with Paul Cherukuri, vice president of innovation at Rice University, and discussed how the United States aims to remain at the forefront of space exploration, emerging technologies and scientific advancement at an Aug. 27 campus event.
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy announces fall public programming
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, ranked the world’s No. 1 university-based think tank, today announced its fall 2025 lineup of public events.
US Rep. Babin to speak on future of American science at Rice’s Baker Institute
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Woodville) will explore critical topics in U.S. science and innovation policy to ensure America remains the global leader in emerging technologies and scientific advancement at an Aug. 27 event hosted by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
