Economist to Discuss US-Mexico Border Economy at TAMIU Lecture

Laredo, Texas – February 18, 2026 – A leading economist will deliver a keynote address at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) as part of the IBC Bank and Commerce Bank Lecture Series. The conference, titled “Swimming against the current: the evolution and challenges of the US-Mexico border economy,” will feature Dr. James Gerber, senior fellow at the Center for United States-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego, and professor emeritus of economics at San Diego State University.

Event Details

The lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, at 6:00 p.m. In the TAMIU Student Center Ballroom (STC 203). Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. The event will too be streamed live on Microsoft Teams.

Dr. James Gerber’s Expertise

Dr. Gerber’s research centers on the macroeconomic history of the Mexico-U.S. Border region and the relationship between the two countries. He is the author of “Border Economies: Cities Bridging the Roads Between the United States and Mexico,” and co-author of “Fifty years of change on the border between the United States and Mexico,” an economic history of financial crises, and “A Great Quantity of Ruin: Financial Crises Since 1929.” He has also authored a widely used university textbook, “International Economics.” His recent academic articles have focused on human development along the U.S.-Mexico border, the role of free trade, and the impact of the 1907 American financial crisis on Mexico.

About IBC Bank and TAMIU

IBC Bank, headquartered in Laredo, Texas, has over 150 branches and ATMs in Oklahoma and Texas, offering a range of banking services. IBC Bank is committed to the development of the communities it serves. Texas A&M International University is an international university located at the Gateway to Mexico, serving as a cultural and intellectual hub for the region.

In September 2024, the Matias De Llano Charitable Trust, administered by IBC Bank, donated $100,000 to TAMIU to benefit the newly established Banking Academy at the A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business.