Catherine Mosbacher with the Center for Houston's Future presents two very different Scenarios for the future of H-Town. This is her powerpoint presentation. The videos on the two scenarios are separated out for you to view individually.

2. The Center works to
solve our region’s
toughest problems by
engaging diverse
leaders, providing
impactful
research, and defining
actionable strategies.

3. During the last three
years, we’ve been
conducting the largest
publicinterest, businessled, regional Scenarios
project in the country.
Scenarios 2040
presents two distinct
stories of our future.

4. What is a Scenario?
A Scenario is a story about a plausible future.
A Scenario is not a forecast or a vision.
One is not good and the other bad.
The Center is not advocating for
one scenario or the other.

5. Why Scenarios?
Scenarios enlarge your lens.
They challenge your current assumptions.
They encourage you to look at the
uncertainties.
They provide a different context for
decision-making that includes global,
national and local forces.

6. Why Scenarios?
Scenarios encourage innovation.
They don’t answer questions,
they help you know what questions to ask.
Scenarios illuminate a complex and
uncertain world.
They help force decisions based on values,
not merely what you know.

7. Learning
To Live

9. Playing
To Win

11. Comparison of basic assumptions
Assumptions
Learning to Live
Playing to Win
Size of Population
7 Million
12 Million
Diversity of Population
Diverse and holding
Diverse and rapidly growing
Community Aspiration
Sustainability and quality of life
Growth and economic development
Community Concern
Education, environment, mobility
Resource scarcity, security, mobility
Economic Engine
Healthcare, energy, ports and education
Healthcare, energy, ports and water
desalination
Economic Trajectory
Long period of stagnation followed by a
period of slow growth
Short period of stagnation followed by a
period of explosive growth
Disparity Gap
Narrowing
Widening
Power and Influence
Rise of the public sector
Rise of the private sector
Technological
Advances
Clean energy, communication
technologies, education delivery
mechanisms
Energy, medical devices,
pharmaceuticals, water desalination

12. Question 1:
Which of the two scenarios seems
most plausible to you?
a)Learning to Live (green)
b)Playing to Win (blue)

13. Question 2:
Which of the following issues do you
think will be most impactful in shaping
the future or the region?
a)Population Growth
b)Demographic Changes
c)Business Climate
d)Quality of Life Issues
e)Resource Scarcity

14. Question 3:
Which of the following issues do you
think will be most impactful in positively
shaping the future of the region?
a) Globalization
b) Growth of the Region’s
Logistics/Transportation Sector
c) Growth of the Region’s Energy Sector
d) Growth of the Healthcare Sector
(Research, Services and Clinical Delivery)
e) Business Climate & In-Migration of
Businesses/Personnel from Other States

15. Question 4:
Which of the following issues do you
think will be most impactful in
negatively shaping the future of the
region?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Globalization
Population Growth
Skilled Labor Deficits
Tax Policy
Resource Scarcity

16. futurehouston.org