Barton A.
Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Smith is a Professor of Economics at the University of
Houston and Director of the Institute for Regional Forecasting.
He teaches and conducts research in urban economics
and public finance. He has been affiliated with the
University of Houston since 1973 and has served as
chairman of the Economics Department (1987-1990) and
as director of the Center for Public Policy
(1984-1987). Dr. Smith continues to work with the
Center as its senior economist in charge of regional
economic analysis. He has conducted numerous studies
in housing, transportation and environmental
economics, and he has published many articles in
academic journals and books. During the past 15 years,
Dr. Smith has gained national and local recognition
for his analyses of the Houston economy and real
estate markets. He wrote the Center’s Handbook on the
Houston Economy (1987, 1989) and continues to publish
two symposium reports per year on Houston’s economy
and real estate markets. Dr. Smith received his
Bachelor of Arts in political science from Brigham
Young University (1969) and his Master of Arts and
Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago (1971,
1974).