Border Biz

Income Gap Remains

2010-04-27T00:48:00.000-07:00

New data show the salary gap between men and women is no better the higher up you travel on the totem pole. Female CEOs, lawyers and doctors earn a little more than $100k a year — 25% less than their male counterparts, according to a new report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In all types of work, women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.

The gap gets even wider when you factor race into the equation. Not only to women make less than men, minority women make the least of every category.

For example, in 2004 the median income of Full-Time-Year-Round male workers was $40,798, compared to $31,223 for FTYR female workers.

Women have made many advances toward economic equality, but gaps in income between men and women persist and only multiply over time, as the following numbers from Jessica Arons’ Center for American Progress Action Fund report, “Lifetime Losses: The Career Wage Gap” show.

$434,000: The median amount that a full-time female worker loses in wages over a 40-year period as a direct result of the gender pay gap, also known as the “career wage gap.”

As women, on average live longer than men, this is money which should be going to into a retirement account, but that women will never see.

However, with minority women catching up on college degrees and opening businesses at a rate never before seen, the gap will hopefully start to close.

Changing Face of Hispanic Religion

2010-04-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

In a huge cultural transformation that is changing the face of religion in the United States, millions of Hispanic Americans have left the Roman Catholic Church for evangelical Protestant denominations.

At around some 40 million, Hispanics in the United States now almost outnumber blacks, according to government figures released last month. Other studies claim that an estimated 9 million of them are evangelical. And of that number, close to 70 percent are Pentecostal.
Traditionally, the faith most associated with Hispanics is Catholic. This was true in 1970 when 90% of the Hispanics in the United States identified themselves as Catholic. However, a Barna Research survey of the religious faith of Hispanics in 2001 revealed that only 53% said they were Catholic.

At around some 40 million, Hispanics in the United States now almost outnumber blacks, according to government figures released last month. Other studies claim that an estimated 9 million of them are evangelical. And of that number, close to 70 percent are Pentecostal.
Traditionally, the faith most associated with Hispanics is Catholic. This was true in 1970 when 90% of the Hispanics in the United States identified themselves as Catholic. However, a Barna Research survey of the religious faith of Hispanics in 2001 revealed that only 53% said they were Catholic.

These statistics are especially poignant in Tucson, where Hispanics equal more than one-third of the population according to the 2000 Census.

Below is a map of the Protestant Christian Churches in Tucson:

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Dollar Store Mania

2010-04-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

On the corner of Grant and Euclid in Tucson, Arizona, three dollar stores compete with each other and the grocery store for business. In Tucson alone, there are over 150 dollar stores and more companies are moving here monthly.

Discount businesses, i.e. Dollar Stores and thrift stores suffer during sound economic times, when consumers have more money in their pockets -- or have more credit available to them. As a result, dollar stores end up losing customers to larger, more expensive stores that offer nationally recognized brands. However, when the economy tanks, thriftiness becomes more appealing and sensible. Dollar stores' coffers are replenished as consumers start searching for cheaper items.
In general, dollar stores keep prices low through cost-cutting measures. Dollar Tree, the only national chain that sells items for a dollar, cuts costs by selling items in smaller sizes and spreading out deliveries through the week. Other chains and independent stores have taken to selling some merchandise for one dollar and others, like national brands, for near-traditional retail prices. And some items, like big-ticket electronics, simply aren't found in dollar stores unless they've been liquidated as part of another company's stock. Once items like these are gone, they're gone, which can make shopping for these particular items at dollar stores a hit-or-miss proposition.

Census Reaches Out to Spanish-Speakers

2010-03-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

Hoping to count every man, woman and child, including many whose first language is not English, in the country in its decennial tally the Census Bureau will mail out 120 million forms starting in March. The 2010 Census questionnaire will be available in six languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. For the first time, the government entity will mail out 13 million bilingual, English-Spanish forms as part of the census taking effort mandated by the U.S. Constitution.

In an effort to allay the fears and overcome the language barrier for Spanish speakers living in the United States, the Census Bureau recently announced 2010.census.gov/espanol/, a Spanish language section of the census website. The Spanish language pages are designed to inform “the more than 34 million Spanish-speaking people about the 2010 Census and to demonstrate to the Hispanic community that participation is easy, important and safe,".

In addition to the Spanish version of the 2010 website, the Census Bureau plans a one-page description and a user guide explaining how to answer the census questionnaire in 59 languages. While the 2000 Census paid advertising campaign was in 17 languages, the 2010 Census plans to include 28 languages in its advertising campaign.

Annual LULAC Conference Hits Pima West

2010-03-15T23:39:00.001-07:00

Approximately 2,000 middle and high school students will attend the 21st annual Southern Arizona youth LULAC conference this Monday and Tuesday.

The League of United Latin American Citizens hosts the conference in partnership with Pima Community College and the Southern Arizona Institute of Leadership on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at PCC's West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road.

The conference featured workshops aimed at helping kids stay in school, a positive thinking concert urging kids not to do drugs and presentations from local businesses and colleges.

According to a Tucson Police Department representative, "These kids are our future, they are the ones who will be paying taxes and working in a couple years. We are here to encourage them to help protect our community."

Below is a video from one of Patsy Torres's Power of Positive thinking tour:

Immigrants see foreclosure on the American Dream

2010-02-22T22:49:00.000-08:00

The idea of a home of one's own has long been glorified as the American dream for generations. Immigrants have long clamored for a piece of the proverbial pie, and contemporary foreigners from South and Latin America continue the history.

However, a study done by the Pew Hispanic Center found that while America is a cultural melting pot, foreclosure rates are not. According to multiple regression analysis of foreclosure rates by county the rates are actually strongly correlated with the size of the immigrant population in a county. The larger the share of immigrants in a county, the more foreclosures there are.

Foreclosure rates are also not color-blind. Foreign born Latinos account for a far greater share of foreclosures than any other immigrant group.

While there are many potential reasons for this, there is not one direct cause for this. Maybe immigrants are just riskier borrowers. Another possibility raised by the Pew Hispanic Center is that immigrants may have been attracted to the boomiest areas of the countries. The study said that housing booms, in particular, may be especially good at attracting immigrants because they have many low-skill.

Another potential reason cited by Lora Mwaniki-Lyman, a research economist for the Eller School of Business Management, is that immigrants may not be as well versed in legality, and can be easily mislead by the complex contracts. They are also not as able to find legal help, due to costs and language barriers.

Tucson Ethnic Markets Show Trends in Population

2010-02-15T21:11:00.001-08:00

A table full of bright yellow turmeric and emerald green sprigs of dried mint adorn the back table of Jasmine's Market at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Grant Road. A pyramid of twenty pound burlap sacks full of basmati rice grace the front of the store. Red, yellow, and green cans of hummos and fava beans sit on industrial metal shelves. The aroma of honey-soaked baklava wafts from the back room while paintings of Egyptian markets and the Nile decorate the wall behind the cash register.

Ethnic markets and groceries are a significant source of food in the United States. A study released by Iowa State University in 2005, found that Americans spends an average of nearly fifteen percent of grocery money in ethnic food markets.

“I think that a lot people come here to try something different,” said Sukanya Bhat, the owner of India Dunkaan, an Indian grocery store at 2754 N. Campbell Avenue, as she leaned on the counter above a large selection of dusty Indian movies. “They try something at an Indian restaurant and want to make it at home.”
The growth of ethic markets in Tucson shows the growing numbers of other ethnic groups settling in the area.
"When people come to a new country and start earning money, the businesses in the area have to cater to them," said Lora Mwaniki-Lyman from the Eller College of Business Management.
Amer Said from Jasmine's Market also attributes the flow of international students from the University of Arizona to the popularity of the ethnic markets. “We get a lot of students in here looking for food that they got in there native countries,” Said said on a warm Tuesday afternoon at his market. “I've had Lebanese kids in here homesick for baklava and labneh and they are so glad that we stock it.”

Latina's Getting the Ball Rolling in Business

2010-02-09T00:16:00.000-08:00

After speaking to Lea Marquez-Peterson , the president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as well as two economic researchers from the Eller College of Business who run the Border Economics program, I learned that Latina entrepreneurs are taking the lead in opening new businesses.

From 1997 to 2006, the number of Latina-owned firms increased by 121%, according to a study by the Center for Women's Business that analyzed census data.

According to the the CWB's Current State of Business Report:

Women of color are starting businesses at rates three to five times faster than all other businesses. However, once in business, their growth lags behind all other firms. Businesses owned by women of color are a substantial economic force. The Center for Women's Business Research's biennial update of the number, revenues and employment trends for these businesses was released at the symposium. The findings, underwritten by Wells Fargo, showed strong growth. Between 2002 and 2008, the number of such firms increased by 32 percent, their revenues by a dramatic 48 percent, and their employment by 27 percent. The Center estimates that as of 2008 there are 1.9 million firms owned by women of color, employing 1.2 million workers and bringing in $165 billion in revenues. Women of color comprise 26 percent of all women-owned firms.

According to Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi, a research economist with the Eller College of Business and Management, there are several reasons for this:

-All women, especially Latina’s are getting college degrees at the highest rate ever seen in this country, leading to increased wealth

-Many Latina’s are coming from countries which are not as friendly to female entrepreneurs as the United States, so once they are here, they see the opportunity to distinguish themselves

-Once the ball gets rolling and these women start companies, this leads to more women in the community taking the initiative

Because of the influx of women owned businesses, banks and investors are taking notice. Below is a video of business conference which was held to help Latina’s find the resources to start their own businesses.

Hispanic Business Boom

2010-02-01T11:13:00.001-08:00

According to a study done by Hispanic Business Magazine, the number of Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States is expected to grow 41.8 percent in the next six years to 4.3 million, with total revenues surging 39 percent to more than $539 billion.

After talking to the President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Lea Marquez-Peterson, I learned that Hispanic-owned businesses were growing faster than any other group in the United States. I also learned that Latina's were outnumbering men in starting up new businesses. She said there were several reasons for the growth of Hispanic-owned businesses:

-there are more educational opportunities available, and more people (especially women) are getting the information they need to start and run a business
-the massive rise in unemployment has made it harder to find jobs so many have decided to just start their own businesses
-right now is a great time to start a business if the person is prepared, because real estate is low and there are many out-of-work employees

She also said that many established business are using this time to expand. One of Tucson’s landmarks, El Charro has revamped one of its stores to turn it into Sir Vezas, which seeks to attract a younger crowd.

Why Mexico Matters

2010-01-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

The United States has long been influenced by the relationship of Mexico, and this is especially prevalent in the border states; California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Mexico has affected the United States culturally, socially and especially economically.

These are some of the numbers found by the Eller School of Business Management Border Economy Program:

· Close to 23,000 wage and salary jobs in Arizona at eating and drinking establishments and other spending-related sectors are a direct result of Mexican spending in the Arizona

· Mexican spending also generated 7,000 jobs in Arizona between 2007-2008

· These jobs account for a total income of $837.24 million and $3.61 billion in sales

In this blog I will discuss border issues from an economic standpoint, with ideas ranging from business to personal finance and how they relate to the border. Please contact me if you have any questions, comments or ideas for me to write about: samseaster at yahoo dot com

If you are interested in other issues relating to the border, check out Border Beat: an online newspaper covering border issues or some of the blogs to the right