On Wednesday, November 19, 17 faculty, staff, and graduate students attended the final Inklings gathering of the Fall 2025 semester. Dr. Scott Langford, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, gave a presentation titled “Economic Crises: What We Know Today and How It Impacts Us.” Dr. Langford opened his presentation by sharing some of the inspirations for his research. Local finance and its impact on communities started his journey. He also explored substance abuse such as the opioid epidemic, and extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. Focusing on economic resilience, his presentation analyzed different economic shocks and their impact on their respective communities. Outcomes vary widely across places, even under similar shocks, due to regional and local differences.
Following his presentation, the discussion centered on the question of whether we are headed for a recession.
Dr. Langford earned his Ph.D. in Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to TXST, he served as a post-doctoral research fellow in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economics, public health, and the environment. Dr. Langford’s research has appeared in several leading journals, including the Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Economic Development Quarterly, the Journal of Regional Science, and JAMA Pediatrics. His independent research is funded by the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise.
The original Inklings consisted of a small group of intellectuals (whose ranks included J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) who met weekly at Oxford University to read aloud and discuss their works in a spirit of fellowship and civil conversation. In the spirit of these Inklings, the Department of Political Science at Texas State University has held similar gatherings for more than two decades. Meeting monthly, TXST Inklings participants discuss research, exchange ideas, and address a wide variety of issues reflecting diverse interests.
For more information on the series, please contact Dr. Arnold Leder at al04@txstate.edu.
