Dean Jay Hartzell | Trinity University
Dean Jay Hartzell | Trinity University
At Business Outlook Austin, the topics of the day were data analytics, investments and the Texas economy.
Jay Hartzell, dean of the McCombs School of Business, shared the spotlight on January 16, in Crum Auditorium at the University of Texas at Austin, with CEOs, business leaders and economists from the community.
“The big thing we all look for in the economy is growth,” Hartzell told KXAN, pointing out that 2019 was the longest economic expansion in the United States' history. “More job creation, more money flows, more business creation.”
Hartzell admits there will be challenges.
“We’re coming out of an interesting year from a trade perspective, so everyone has been talking about ‘what’s the role of international trade in growth?’ and you know, I woke up this morning to headlines around the signed pact with China,” he said. “That’s one of the sources of uncertainty.”
He also addressed the 2020 presidential election.
“People are wondering what that’s going to mean for the macro-economy,” he said. “Are people going to wait and hold back on investment or spending because they’re trying to see what or how that resolves itself?”
He maintains a hopeful outlook, adding that Texas and Austin have been “very blessed.”
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