National Study – Muslim African Immigrants Identify Closely with the American Dream

A recently completed study of African immigrant markets found that among all groups surveyed, Muslim African immigrants identified most strongly with the American dream. When asked their opinion on the statement, “America is a land of freedom, opportunity and possibilities for a better life,” 75 percent of Muslim African immigrants strongly agreed with that statement compared to 70 percent of all African immigrants surveyed. Among Somali Muslim immigrants the percentage who strongly agreed was even higher – 79 percent. African immigrants were less likely to report experiencing racism against them in America. Only about a third of those surveyed strongly agreed that they experienced racism against them in America. The percentage was even lower for Muslim African immigrants and even lower for Somali Muslims. The study also found a unique Islamic segment of the African immigrant consumer market. The national study was conducted by New American Dimensions of Los Angeles and commissioned by the US African Chamber of Commerce. David Morse of New American Dimensions and Dr. Bruce Corrie of Concordia University-St. Paul were co-authors. The study focused on African immigrants in Minnesota, Washington DC, New York and California. The study can be found at http://www.ethnictrends.info/pdfs/African_Immigrant_Presentation(2).pdf . A video of the study can be found at http://newamericandimensions.com . For more details on the study please contact Martin Mohammed (userad@aol.com), David Morse (david@newamericandimensions.com) or Dr. Bruce Corrie (corrie@csp.edu).

State of ALANA Business, 2009

State of Minority Businesses in the Economic Downturn in Minnesota, 2009 – “Glimmers of Hope” Saint Paul, MN: The 2009 survey results on the State of ALANA Businesses 2009 was presented at a packed town hall meeting focusing on the Economic Recovery Act at St. Paul College attended by senior policy leaders such as Congresswoman McCollum, Mayor Coleman of St. Paul and DEED Commissioner McElroy and others. “The key insight from the 2009 survey is that we can see “Glimmers of Hope” in the experiences of ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) businesses as they weather the economic downturn,” said Dr. Bruce Corrie, Dean, College of Business and Organizational Leadership at Concordia University-St. Paul. The online survey was sent to over 500 businesses and had an 11 percent response rate or 64 firms. These firms reflected a wide range of industries whose sales ranged from $10,000 to $20 million. Among the key findings of the survey: • 40 percent of the firms expected to increase employment in 2009. 24 percent reported reduction in employment in 2008. • 56 percent expected sales in 2009 to be average or above average while 44 percent expected sales to be below average. • Strategies used during the economic downturn included the following – o Finding a core stable financial base to weather the storm o Increased networking for new sources of revenue o Analyzing the customer base to find important market segments. o Analyzing the product base to find out products whose demand increases during the downturn. o Experimenting with innovative ideas and new products. Survey results can be found at www.ethnictrends.info. The survey follows a similar survey in 2008. For more information contact Bruce Corrie – 651 641 8226 or corrie@csp.edu

Citizen Solution to the MN Budget Impasse

It is unfortunate that our elected officials have reached an impasse over the budget and not non elected bureaucrats get to decide the future of Minnesota. We as citizens need to take charge of this process - How? Citizens should host a political summit in every county. The Secretary of State's office has the infrastructure and capacity to implement these town hall meetings through their voting and election infrastructure. The major elements of the budget proposals of the legislature should be summarized. Governor Pawlenty's proposals should be summarized. Citizens could vote on three options:

• Accept the legislative proposals
• Accept the Governor's proposals
• Ask both the Governor and the Legislature to reach a compromise

Elected officials should follow the citizens recommendations. If they do not they have lost the popular mandate and should resign. I cannot believe that we in Minnesota are presented with a "default" option to resolve the serious issues of the future of Minnesota - especially in a time when so many Minnesotans are hurting because of the economy. If you agree with the above write your comment below and we will work to implement this vision.

President of Liberia's visit and Minnesota's Liberians

I welcome the visit of the President of Liberia to Minnesota. Here is some information on the economic contributions of Liberians to Minnesota.

Though a small community Liberians in the United States and Minnesota have a significant impact on the national and local economy. This report will document the multidimensional economic contributions of Liberians in Minnesota and the nation. The local analysis in Minnesota can help estimate the national economic contributions of this community to the nation.

Consumer Capital

• Liberians in the United States have a buying power of over a billion dollars. This is equivalent to two times the GDP of Liberia in 2005.

• In Minnesota Liberian buying power is an estimated $157 million dollars which is almost as large as the 2007-08 Liberian National Budget of $199 million dollars.

Worker Capital

• Nationally and in Minnesota, Liberians have a higher labor force participation rates – 74 percent (nationally and locally).
• Liberian workers are concentrated in the health care sector – nationally and locally with 45 percent locally and 36 percent nationally in that sector. Almost 4000 Liberians work in the health care sector in Minnesota.

Fiscal Capital

• At the national level, Liberians pay an estimated 441 million dollars in personal taxes, almost equal to the GDP of Liberia.
• In Minnesota, Liberians pay an estimated 24 million dollars in state taxes and 22 million dollars in federal taxes.

Entrepreneurial Capital

• We do not have good data on Liberian businesses in Minnesota. However if we look at the growth in Black owned businesses in Brooklyn Park, the home of many African and Liberian immigrants we find that Black owned businesses grew over 100 percent during the period 1997-2002 from 205 to 437 and revenue of these firms grew over 70 percent during the same period, according to the Survey of Business Owners, 2002.

Global Capital

• Exports to Liberia from the US was 75 million dollars in 2007
• Liberia is an important source for Rubber imports to the US.
• Minnesota with exports to Liberia of 1.2 million dollars in 2007 was the 15^th largest trading partner of the US with Liberia.
• Between 2002 and 2007 – trade between Liberia and Minnesota rose 1479 percent or over 14 times.

Economic Impact

• Liberian workers are a small but significant part of the Minnesotan economy. According to the EMSI model the employment of Liberian workers helped create over 12,000 jobs and increase overall earnings by 492 million dollars. This earnings increase is almost the size of the GDP of Liberia.
• Liberian workers have a powerful impact on the health care sector of Minnesota. According to the EMSI model, if the slightly over 3000 Liberian workers were to leave the local economy this would impact 7000 other workers in Minnesota and create a further earnings loss of over 300 million dollars in Minnesota.

Conclusion

Liberians in Minnesota and the nation are a small and significant part of the local and national economy. They influence the local and national economy in many ways – as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, global and cultural capital. It is all the more important that the issue of the TPS of some Liberians expiring be given due policy consideration as a sudden labor shortage in a critical sector of the economy (health care) can have a significant on the economy of Minnesota.

Black Capital Makes Minnesota Wealthier

I ran a simulation of the economic impact of over 145,000 Black workers in Minnesota. The model estimated that these workers helped increase earnings of other workers in Minnesota to the tune of almost 10 billion dollars. Black Capital makes Minnesota wealthier. I used the EMSI model which is an input-output model used by economists to give us a snapshot of economic impacts. The model has its own limitations but nevertheless helps us gauge broad economic impacts. For more information and data on the ethnic economy in Minnesota and the nation see www.ethnictrends.info. Bruce P. Corrie, PhD

The State of ALANA Businesses, Fall 2008

The State of ALANA Businesses, Fall 2008

Gloom, Cautious Optimism, Resilient Adapters

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD

The full report is on www.ethnictrends.info

Given the importance of ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) businesses to the local economy it is important to know how they are faring in the current economic climate. To get a sense of their status during this period of economic decline a quick survey was conducted in the following manner: From a database of over 3000 minority firms, 140 were randomly selected from a wide range of sectors. A total of 52 telephone calls were made with 24 responses from 16 sectors of the economy. Half of these calls were to firms randomly selected from the list of firms. Others were called to ensure representation of a wide range of industries.

Respondents were asked if their sales in the previous year were less than average, average or below average. They were also asked about their expected sales in the coming year and whether they had to downsize and about their plans to expand in the future. In addition leaders serving ALANA entrepreneurs were also surveyed for their assessment of the situation. The ALANA business owners reflected a wide range of sizes – both large successful multimillion dollar businesses to small businesses.

From these surveys we can construct the following ALANA Business Sentiment Index – with the value of 1 being “Boom” and the value of 3 being “Gloom”. The index is a simple average of the responses of the two questions on business sales in the past year and expected sales in the future.

An index of 2.3 out of 3 reflected more of “gloom” than optimism. However there were interesting facts behind those businesses doing well.

Firms in the survey reflected the following sectors of the economy: construction, specialty construction, manufacturing, IT services, janitorial services, real estate, restaurants, grocery stores, HVAC, translation services, commercial painting, commercial printing, ethnic media, insurance, business referrals and legal services.

For more details see the full report on www.ethnictrends.info

RNC Visitor - Map of Ethnic Attractions

RNC Visitors and Delegates – Experience the World in Saint Paul

A Warm Welcome from the World Cultural Heritage District where you will experience the world in Saint Paul in the University Avenue area near the State Capitol.

The attached map will give you some places where you can experience the dynamic potential of ethnic capital in Minnesota – a 12 billion dollar economy. You can also find the map online at http://ethnictrends.info/pdfs/WCHD%20Welcome.pdf.

If you want to know more about the area – call one of the Cultural Ambassadors listed on the map and they will be glad to help you.

Sample Itinerary -

· Morning coffee at African American Jazz Themed coffee shop and café – Golden Thyme – ask the locals about the Rondo Neighborhood, Selby Jazz Festival or the African American Heritage Corridor.

· Egg rolls and Hmong Sausage at Food Smart Deli for a late morning snack

· Stroll over to the Hmong Market on Como and Marian

· Get your nails done, hair braided or buy ethnic groceries at the many stores on University Avenue

· Lunch – you choose the continent – Asia, Latin America or Africa – there is a restaurant to match on the Avenue or try Vietnamese sandwiches at Saigon or Trung Nam.

· Relax at the Rondo Library and read about local history there or walk over to the Center for Hmong Art and Talent to hear about their latest Hmong fashion show.

· Catch the latest show at the African American theater – Penumbra

· Dinner – eat with the locals – soup at Pho Ca Do, appetizers at the trendy Ngon, dinner at the elegant Mai Village (ask the owner to show you the Vietnamese Museum on the top floor), desert and drinks at the many restaurants on Selby Avenue.

Enjoy your visit to the World Cultural Heritage District and come back soon!

Workers from India Contribute $1 billion to Social Security Fund

An Article in the Indian Express sent to me by Kingshuk Mukherjee documents the contributions of temporary workers from India to the US Social Security Fund....see below... Over $1 billion of contributions to the US Social Security Fund are made annually by an estimated 80,000 “detached workers” from India working on consultancy and onsite assignments — each one has to contribute at the rate of 15% of basic salary. However, when they return to India, these contributions are forfeited as the minimum period to qualify for pension benefits in the US is 10 years (the same is true of India as well)... http://www.indianexpress.com/story/332763.html

Ethnic Capital - Liberians in MN and USA

Ethnic Capital: Liberians in the United States and Minnesota

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD

Dean, College of Business, Concordia University

corrie@csp.edu

Daniel Johnson,

Research Assistant, Concordia University

Though a small community Liberians in the United States and Minnesota have a significant impact on the national and local economy. This report will document the multidimensional economic contributions of Liberians in Minnesota and the nation. The local analysis in Minnesota can help estimate the national economic contributions of this community to the nation.

· Liberian workers are a small but significant part of the Minnesotan economy. According to the EMSI model the employment of Liberian workers helped create over 12,000 jobs and increase overall earnings by 492 million dollars. This earnings increase is almost the size of the GDP of Liberia.

• Liberians in the United States have a buying power of over a billion dollars. This is equivalent to two times the GDP of Liberia in 2005.

• In Minnesota Liberian buying power is an estimated $157 million dollars which is almost as large as the 2007-08 Liberian National Budget of $199 million dollars.

• Liberian workers are concentrated in the health care sector – nationally and locally with 45 percent locally and 36 percent nationally in that sector. Almost 4000 Liberians work in the health care sector in Minnesota.
• Liberian workers have a powerful impact on the health care sector of Minnesota. According to the EMSI model, if the slightly over 3000 Liberian workers were to leave the local economy this would impact 7000 other workers in Minnesota and create a further earnings loss of over 300 million dollars in Minnesota.

• At the national level, Liberians pay an estimated 441 million dollars in personal taxes, almost equal to the GDP of Liberia.
• In Minnesota, Liberians pay an estimated 24 million dollars in state taxes and 22 million dollars in federal taxes.

• Minnesota with exports to Liberia of 1.2 million dollars in 2007 was the 15^th largest trading partner of the US with Liberia.
• Between 2002 and 2007 – trade between Liberia and Minnesota rose 1479 percent or over 14 times.

Conclusion

Liberians in Minnesota and the nation are a small and significant part of the local and national economy. They influence the local and national economy in many ways – as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, global and cultural capital. It is all the more important that the issue of the TPS of some Liberians expiring be given due policy consideration as a sudden labor shortage in a critical sector of the economy (health care) can have a significant on the economy of Minnesota.

For the full report visit www.ethnictrends.info

Economic Contributions of African Immigrants

Minnesota is among the top 10 states in the nation for the number of African immigrants.

African Immigrant buying power in the USA is an estimated 45 billion dollars (in relative terms – will be the 6^th largest African economy). African Immigrant Capital in Minnesota is also significant – for example buying power of the Somalis is an estimated 216 million dollars, Ethiopians 203 million dollars, Nigerians 71 million dollars, Kenyan 167 million dollars, Liberians 142 million dollars and smaller communities like the Cameroonian community have an estimated buying power of 6 million dollars.

African immigrants, as compared to other immigrants, tend to be younger, have higher educational attainment and have a greater participation in the workforce.

This data was released by Dr. Bruce Corrie, Professor of Economics and Director of the Strategic Business Design Institute, Concordia University, at the 4^th Annual Midwest Multicultural Marketing Conference in Saint Paul, MN. For more data on African Immigrant Capital please see http://www.ethnictrends.info/AfricanImmigrantCapital.html

A new study on the economic contributions of African immigrants from Liberia will be released shortly. Contact: corrie@csp.edu Tel: 651 641 8226

Mexican Americans and the Immigration Debate

A new study documenting the economic contributions of Mexican Americans in Minnesota was released on March 3, 2008 at the Minnesota Meeting in Minneapolis.

The study addresses a critical weakness of immigration research and policy that has a very narrow definition of economic contribution with its focus mainly on taxes and government spending.

The study offers a comprehensive picture of the economic contributions of immigrants by focusing on immigrants as consumers, workers, human capital, entrepreneur, tax payers, global capital, cultural capital and political capital. Within this perspective the study finds that Mexican Americans have made very significant economic contribution to the state of Minnesota – much more than has been acknowledged in the policy debate on immigration.

The study also points to a flaw in the existing debate on immigration of not incorporating the realities of our market system into the framing of immigration policy. Further there may be no contingency plans developed at the state or national level to address the impact to the local and national economy if large scale labor shortages occur should we implement proposed immigration policies such as mass deportations. The study can be found at http://www.ethnictrends.info/mexammn.html.

Housing Market for Undocument Workers Estimated at $85 Billion

Unlikely Mortgage Winner

Illegal-Immigrant Loans Have Been Solid Bets; Threats Are Looming

By MIRIAM JORDAN October 9, 2007; Page C1 WSJ

This WSJ provides some estimates of the housing market of undocumented workers...below are some excerpts from the interesting article... The housing market for ITIN homes is estimated at $85 billion. But it estimates that the niche market has generated only $2 billion in loans overall because relatively few banks offer them.

The mortgages represent a fraction of the $2.8 trillion mortgage market. But they are a bright spot in today's gloomy mortgage industry.

For loans more than 90 days in arrears, ITIN mortgages have a delinquency rate of about 0.5%, according to independent estimates. That compares with 1% for prime mortgages and 9.3% for subprime mortgages extended to those with spotty credit histories.

....ITIN-mortgage applicants are largely blue-collar, illegal-immigrant workers with only modest incomes. But they undergo more scrutiny -- and provide more documentation -- than candidates for stated-income mortgages and other subprime loans, for example. Most banks also ask applicants to show they have been filing taxes -- with an ITIN -- for at least two years.

Despite the high-yield potential of ITIN mortgages, the majority of players in the ITIN-mortgage segment are small banks rather than large national institutions. Concern over the controversy that can erupt over serving the illegal-immigrant community is widely regarded as preventing big banks interested in the Hispanic market from joining the fray.

Why Somalis are Welcome in Louisville

Today's WSJ (Miriam Jordan) has a story of Somalis immigrants in Louisville Kentucky. The city for various reasons including an aging population has adopted a welcoming approach to immigrants. The city's Mayor Jerry Abramson calls them "internationals" and presents "international awards" to individuals, organizations and companies working to integrate the immigrants in their community.

"It's not that the city has a 'Let's go and find immigrants' approach," says Randy Capps, a senior research associate at the independent Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. "It hopes that by being a welcoming place, more immigrants will want to settle there."

Louisville has not actively gone out and recruited immigrants but some of them found their way here through the refugee allocation process.

From 1990-2004 - the foreign born population has jumped 388 % in the city. 80 languages are spoken in their schools.

For data on immigrants and minorities please visit http://ethnictrends.info

The Hispanic Vote (WSJ Article)

The WSJ September 15 documents some interesting facts on the Hispanic Vote:

• Hispanics make up 8 percent of the electorate and are projected to become 20% of the electorate by 2020
• 48 % of Hispanic voters are foreign born up from 18 % in 1988
• Hispanics may decide elections in the following states: New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Colorado

According the the WSJ, "Latinos are proven swing voters, and Republican energies would be better employed trying to win them over instead of trying to capitalize on ethnic polarization to win GOP primaries." visit http://www.ethnictrends.info for data on ethnic markets

Hispanics' Hard Times Hit Wal-Mart

Results of U.S. Housing Slump Are Felt On Both Sides of Border With Mexico

By KRIS HUDSON and ANA CAMPOY August 29, 2007; Page A8, Wall Street Journal

• The Mexican central bank estimates that money transfers into the country have risen 0.6% so far this year, compared with a robust 15% increase last year and 21% the year prior. Money transfers from the U.S. are estimated by economic-analysis firm Global Insight Inc. to account for 5% of Mexico's consumer spending.
• Money transfers from the U.S. are estimated by economic-analysis firm Global Insight Inc. to account for 5% of Mexico's consumer spending.
• WalMex racked up $18.3 billion in sales last year, accounting for nearly a quarter of the retailer's international sales and ranking it as Wal-Mart's second-largest international division behind its Asda unit in the United Kingdom.
• An estimated 9% of Wal-Mart's U.S. shoppers were Hispanic in 2005, up from 6% in 1997, according to ACNielsen.

Racism and Health

Interesting article in the Boston Globe on possible impact of racisim on health status of victims.

The Point System and Immigration Reform

There is considerable debate about the Point System proposal for immigration reform. The Migration Policy Institute website http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/2007_05_18.php does a good job in giving a global perspective on the issue. Who are the winners and losers? Winners - Immigrants with skills, English abilities and education Losers - Immigrants with low skills, poor English abilities and poor education Employers might not like this proposal as it takes away their control of the process, ie, who they want to employ and puts the decisions in a centralized system. People with extended families might not like this proposal because the preference for families, primarily nuclear families are embedded in the point system and do not have a separate category like the present system. People who want a bigger say in who gets into this country will like this system because it puts a premium on skills and other criteria deemed important. One thing we have to watch out for is that we do not get boxed into a rigid system. The Toronto Star reported that the point system brought high skilled people to Canada but could not get them jobs. Many high skilled immigrants are thus under employed. Consequently Ontario is pushing for a system where they could bring in more workers more fine tuned to the current needs of the region. Ultimately this is the question of the American identity - should we have an open immigrant system like the days of old or should we control it according to some value system or the capacity of our economy to absorb the immigrants? This is not an easy answer - but one way or the other we need comprehensive immigration reform that is open, flexible, fits in with the traditions of this country and considers the capacity of the country to present meaningful opportunities to the immigrants searching for a better life.

Latest Data show Immigration Benefits MN Cities

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD corrie@csp.edu Latest Census data show many Minnesota Cities and Counties benefited from Immigration. Among the Metropolitan areas facing negative internal migration and being positively impacted by net interntational immigration are the MSP metro area and the Grand Forks - Fargo Metro Area. Among the Micropolitan areas facing negative internal migration rates and being positively impacted by net international migration are: Albert Lea, Austin, Fairmont, Marshall, New Ulm, Wahpeton, Willmar, Winnona and Worthington. To see the data please visit http://ethnictrends.info/Market%20Research.html

Latest Data show Immigration Benefits Austin

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD Professor of Economics Concordia University-St. Paul corrie@csp.edu Latest Census data show that Austin lost 1241 people due to internal migration during the period 2000 and 2006. However international immigration increased Austin's population by 640. Latest Census data reveals that cities all across the United States are benefiting from the inflow of immigrants to compensate population decline due to natural reasons as well as migration to other cities. In the case of Austin, the net addition to Austin's population during the same period due to natural reasons, ie, birth and deaths was 796. Net migration out of Austin was 601. Net international immigration was 640. For more information please see the Census Report: http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/CBSA-est2006-comp-chg.html

$50 Billion Tax Payments from ITIN (Illegal Workers)

Today's WSJ reported that illegal workers in the United States are required to pay taxes and are given an ITIN number. I found a testimony of IRS Commissioner Everson to the House Ways and Means committee where he provides more details around the WSJ article. He thinks that most of these payments are from the undocumented workers (see link above). Today's WSJ gave an example of a tax filing of Pablo Espinoza a welder earning $42,000 and an illegal worker. "Last year, $1,464.88 in Social Security and $342.60 in Medicare were deducted from Mr. Espinoza's wages. His wife paid several hundred dollars in Social Security and Medicare, too. In addition, $3,508 in federal taxes was withheld from their combined salaries. Mrs. Castillo figures they will get a $3,462 refund from the IRS, putting their total federal tax bill at $46." Note while he can get a refund - he is a net contributor to Social Security and Medicare. In his testimony to Congress - IRS Commissioner Everson was making a case for comprehensive reform. WSJ reference http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117564081607858869.html?mod=hps_us_editors_picks

MN Trade Mission to India

Minnesota Governor Announces Trade Mission to India in October, 2007

31 January 2007

Saint Paul, MN: Governor Tim Pawlenty has announced that he will lead a delegation of Minnesota business executives on a trade mission to India in October to explore trade and investment opportunities and make inroads with key Indian and U.S. business organizations.

“Strong economic growth is unleashing a wave of demand in India. From consumer goods to professional services, high-tech to health care, machinery to processed foods – the prospects are abundant,” Governor Pawlenty said. “It’s important that we make these connections firsthand.”

The 30-member delegation will travel to New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai October 20-27, 2007 for a series of market and industry presentations, networking events, roundtable discussions and one-on-one business events with potential Indian customers, distributors and partners.

India’s gross domestic product grew an average 7 percent per year between 1994 and 2004 and recently has tracked at nearly 9 percent. U.S. manufactured exports to India reached $6.8 billion in 2005, an increase of 111 percent since 2000. Minnesota’s manufactured exports to India grew 208 percent to $85 million over the same period.

Promising sectors include computers and electronics, machinery, medical products, biotechnology, and food processing. In addition, Indian companies have ambitious plans for expanding and diversifying manufacturing activities, particularly in the automobile, auto parts, metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics industries, creating opportunities for Minnesota suppliers.

At a press conference announcing the trade mission, Governor Pawlenty acknowledged the role that the local Asian Indian community played in the development of the trade mission to India. “I want to acknowledge local Asian Indian leaders present, my Chief Information Officer Gopal Khanna, State Senator Satveer Chaudhary, leading entrepreneur Mahendra Nath and Professsor Bruce Corrie of Concordia University,” Governor Pawlenty said.

The local Asian Indian community applauded the decision to lead a trade mission to India. A group of Asian Indian leaders and community members proposed a plan for a trade mission to India at the request of the Governor two years ago.

Minnesota is among the top ten states in the US in the rate of growth of exports to India. Between 2000 and 2005 exports grew over 200 percent.

Minnesota Public Radio story: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/01/30/india/

TV: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=240655

Official Package on the Mission: www.deed.state.mn.us

Contributions of Asian Indians to MN; http://ethnictrends.info/Market%20Research.html

Minnesota Exports to India: http://ethnictrends.info/Market%20Research.html

For more information relating to the Asian Indian community please contact Dr. Bruce Corrie, Professor of Economics at Concordia University at 651 641 8226 or corrie@csp.edu.

For more information on the Governor Pawlenty’s Trade Mission please contact the individuals below:

Contact Tony Lorusso, Executive Director, Minnesota Trade Office

Phone: 651-297-4657 Fax: 651-296-3555

E-mail: tony.lorusso@state.mn.us

OR

Contact Jodi Boerner, International Trade Representative, Minnesota Trade Office

Phone: 651-297-4646 Fax: 651-296-3555

E-mail: jodi.boerner@state.mn.us

Impact of California 209 on Minority Firms

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD A recent study evaluates the the impact of Proposition 209, the California Civil Rights Initiative, in 1996 which ended programs to provide greater access and use of minority firms in public projects.

In 2006, the Discrimination Research Center (DRC) issued a report on the impact of Proposition 209, the California Civil Rights Initiative that ended race-conscious goals and affirmative action programs on minority businesses. Major findings of the report were:

1. Only a third of the certified MBEs in California’s transportation construction industry are in business now.
2. Existing MBEs reported a greater than 50 percent reduction of total awards and contracts from Caltrans.
3. MBEs reported that the aspects of the federal race conscious efforts such good faith efforts by prime contractors and pre-bidding conferences were less helpful after 1996.
4. Among the surviving firms, African American and minority female owned firms were the most negatively impacted.
5. The surviving MBEs could not have initially succeeded or maintained their success without the incentives that helped provided them equal access to bids. http://drcenter.org/studies/free_to_compete_06.pdf

Abraham Lincoln's Answer to the Immigration Question

......visit www.ethnictrends.info for data on the ethnic markets.... Abraham Lincoln had an answer to the great American immigration question: Who is the true immigrant? Do people coming from Asia, Latin America and Africa have the same qualities as the Founding Fathers? In a speech on July 10, 1858, Lincoln talked about the Founding Fathers:

“We find a race of men living in that day whom we claim as our fathers and grandfathers; they were iron men, they fought for the principle that they were contending for; and we understood that by what they then did it has followed that the degree of prosperity that we now enjoy has come to us.”

He goes on to pose the question whether the newer immigrants from Europe were connected to the Founding Fathers. He said if we were to look for a connection by blood we would not find a connection.

However - here is where they will find the connection:

"..but when they look through that old Declaration of Independence they find that those old men say that 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,' and then they feel that that moral sentiment taught in that day evidences their relation to those men, that it is the father of all moral principle in them, and that they have a right to claim it as through they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the men who wrote that Declaration, (loud and long continued applause) and so they are.

That is the electric cord in that Declaration that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men throughout the world. [Applause.]

President Abraham Lincoln, speech on July 10, 1858.

So new immigrants to America if anyone doubts your authenticity and links to the Founding Fathers - let them raise the issue with President Abraham Lincoln when they see him next. You could also give them a copy of the Declaration . Note Lincoln's only criteria was the moral sentiment that is contained in the Declaration.....

An article in the Wall Street Journal by Peggy Noonan pointed out this speech of Lincoln which I found and excerpted above. See Below for the larger excerpt of the speech as well as an excerpt of the Declaration.

We are now a mighty nation, we are thirty — or about thirty millions of people, and we own and inhabit about one-fifteenth part of the dry land of the whole earth. We run our memory back over the pages of history for about eighty-two years and we discover that we were then a very small people in point of numbers, vastly inferior to what we are now, with a vastly less extent of country, — with vastly less of everything we deem desirable among men, — we look upon the change as exceedingly advantageous to us and to our prosperity, and we fix upon something that happened away back, as in some way or other being connected with this rise of prosperity. We find a race of men living in that day whom we claim as our fathers and grandfathers; they were iron men, they fought for the principle that they were contending for; and we understood that by what they then did it has followed that the degree of prosperity that we now enjoy has come to us. We hold this annual celebration to remind ourselves of all the good done in this process of time of how it was done and who did it, and how we are historically connected with it; and we go from these meetings in better humor with ourselves — we feel more attached the one to the other, and more firmly bound to the country we inhabit. In every way we are better than men in the age and race, and country in which we live for these celebrations. But after we have done all this we have not yet reached the whole. There is something else connected with it. We have besides these men-descended by blood from our ancestors — among us perhaps half our people who are not descendants at all of these men, they are men who have come from Europe — German, Irish, French and Scandinavian — men that have come from Europe themselves, or whose ancestors have come hither and settled here, finding themselves our equals in all things. If they look back through this history to trace their connection with those days by blood, they find they have none, they cannot carry themselves back into that glorious epoch and make themselves feel that they are part of us, but when they look through that old Declaration of Independence they find that those old men say that 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,' and then they feel that that moral sentiment taught in that day evidences their relation to those men, that it is the father of all moral principle in them, and that they have a right to claim it as through they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the men who wrote that Declaration, (loud and long continued applause) and so they are. That is the electric cord in that Declaration that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men throughout the world. [Applause.] http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=19&subjectID=2 Excerpts of the Declaration of Independence as found in www.archives.gov

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Website on Dynamic Power of Ethnic Capital

At the website, www.ethnictrends.info you will find a comprehensive overview of the dynamic power of ethnic capital in five major areas:

• Ethnic Consumers
• Ethnic Firms
• Ethnic Workers
• Ethnic Tax Base
• Cultural Capital
• Global Networks

You will also find links to important data on immigrants and minorities in Minnesota and data on ethnic capital in the above areas.

Also in the site are links to ethnic media and non profit resources.

Take the Minority Political Visibility Poll

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Minority Political Summit

Are Candidates for Public Office Listening? 2006 MINORITY POLITICAL SUMMIT Defining Policy Priorities of Minority Communities in Minnesota Why: Minority issues are largely invisible in the current election platforms of candidates for statewide offices: Governor, Senate, House, Secretary of State, Attorney General. WHEN: MONDAY OCTOBER 2, 2006, 3:30 – 6 PM WHERE: COWLES AUDITORIUM, HUMPHREY INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WHO: MINORITY EXPERTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS FROM PRE-K TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MINORITY COMMUNITY LEADERS WHAT: PRESENTATION OF TOP POLICY PRIORITES FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES FOR INTEGRATION INTO POLICY DEBATES IN MINNESOTA How: Input from community leaders and public at the event will be synthesized into a public document and distributed to the campaigns. Political campaigns and candidates will be encouraged to attend the event. Minority community leaders and community members are invited to attend and/or send in their policy priorities to corrie@csp.edu before September 28th in order to be included in the materials for the program. COST: FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Program: 3:30 to 5 pm (Invited speakers) 5 to 5:30 pm Open microphone. 5:30 to 6 pm Next Steps. Co-Sponsors: Asian American Press, Asian Pages, Conversations with Al McFarlane, Latino Communication Network Media (La Prensa de Minnesota, Gente de Minnesota), Hmong Times, Insight News, Mshale, Minnesota Multicultural Media Coalition, Africa News Journal. CONTACT: Lawrencina Mason Oramalu – 612 626 8734 loramalu@umn.edu Dr. Bruce Corrie – 651 641 8226 corrie@csp.edu For Updates: www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/wilkins ethnictrends.blogspot.com

Research Shows Supplier Diversity Good for the Bottom Line

The following are excerpts from www.thehackettgroup.com report of results on supplier diversity programs that was also reported in the Wall Street Journal on August 2. Increasing the reliance on women- and minority-owned businesses as suppliers does not cost leading procurement organizations more, according to new research from The Hackett Group, a strategic advisory firm and an Answerthink company (NASDAQ: ANSR). In fact, some cutting-edge companies find quite the opposite is true, and are finding ways to use supplier diversity to drive new sources of revenue. Hackett's research shows that world-class procurement organizations which focus heavily on supplier diversity don't sacrifice procurement savings to do so. In addition, these leading procurement organizations have slightly higher adoption rates of supplier diversity programs as typical companies, yet are able to generate 133%percent greater return on the cost of procurement operations than average performers, driving an additional $3.6 million to their company's bottom line for every $1 million in procurement operations costs.

The Premium for Learning English in the USA

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD corrie@csp.edu Here is a number to help policy makers understand why people all over the world want to study English. All over the world, including the USA, there is a strong economic reason to become fluent in English. The difference in earnings between people who speak English very well versus those who do not speak English at all is an estimated $24,000. English language learners get it – why don’t our policy makers? (Data estimated from a recent study by Sum et. al. (2004) of the ETS on the human capital of immigrants in the USA)

Rapid Growth in American Indian Firms in MN

Bruce P. Corrie PhD, corrie@csp.edu According to the Economic Census 2002, there were 2742 American Indian and Alaskan Native firms in Minnesota with 318 million in receipts. 487 of these firms had paid employees with $ 282 million dollars in receipts, employing 3676 people with 90 million dollars in payroll. Minnesota ranked 13th in the nation for growth in numbers of American Indian and Alaskan Native firms. In 1997 only 4 Minnesotan counties had 100 or more American Indian and Alaskan Native firms, the 2002 Census lists 8 Counties, 5 of which the Census provides data: Becker, Beltrami, Dakota, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. For the first time, Minneapolis and Saint Paul appear as cities within Minnesota with 100 or more American Indian and Alaskan Native firms: 254 firms in Minneapolis and 120 firms in Saint Paul. American Indian and Alaskan Native firms had almost 40 percent growth of firms with paid employees, 60 percent growth in employees and 60 percent growth in payroll between 1997-2002.

Asian Owned Firms Grow Rapidly in MN

Asian Owned Firms Grew Rapidly in MN Bruce P. Corrie, PhD corrie@csp.edu According to the latest data from the Economic Census Asian owned firms grew 44 percent compared to the overall growth rate of 8 percent in Minnesota. Minnesota ranked 8th in the nation for the growth in Asian owned firms. Since 1997 Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Oakdale and Woodbury were new cities with 100 or more Asian owned firms were located. Other cities were Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Richfield, Rochester, Roseville and Saint Paul. There were 8 counties with a significant presence of Asian owned firms: Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, Scott, Stearns and Washington. Within ethnic groups, the largest number of Asian American firms with paid employees were Chinese, followed by Asian Indian and Vietnamese. No data was reported for Hmong firms which was unfortunate as we need a credible count of Hmong firms in Minnesota. The other surprise was a large increase in Filipino firms which from casual observation might be in part, an estimation error.