Studies

Studies

• 2012 Independent Business Survey

  The fifth annual post-holiday survey of independent businesses by Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance yielded powerful evidence that pro-local attitudes are growing and Independent Business Alliances (IBAs) and similarly-modeled community organizations are yielding greater benefit than ever for their members.

• NFIB Small Business Economic Trends

  The NFIB Research Foundation has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since 1974 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are drawn from NFIB’s membership. The report is released on the second Tuesday of each month.

• 2011 Indie City Index: Executive Summary

  Civic Economics and the American Booksellers Association are pleased to present this summary of the Indie City Index, a ranking of every Metropolitan Area in the United States based on the health of the local, independent retail sector.

• 2011 Indie City Index: Data Appendix

  Complete index listings by rank, primary city name, population, and region; correlation scatter plots; source materials; methodology description.

• 2011 Indie City Index: Final Report

  A measure of independent retail vitality in every American metropolitan area.

• 2011 Independent Business Survey: New Orleans Data

  Twenty-seven business owners in the New Orleans area participated in the 2011 Independent Business Survey. See the results here.

• Survey Finds "Buy Local" Message Benefiting Independent Businesses

  The survey, which was conducted over an 8-day period in January, gathered data from 2,768 independent businesses. It found that those in places with a “buy local” campaign reported revenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to 2.1% for those elsewhere

• 2011 Independent Business Survey

  The survey, which was conducted over an 8-day period in January, gathered data from 2,768 independent businesses. It found that those in places with a “buy local” campaign reported revenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to 2.1% for those elsewhere.

• The San Francisco Retail Diversity Study

  In this 2007 study, CivEc calculates market shares for independents and chains in several categories, examines economic impact of locally owned vs. chains, and analyzes how modest shifts in consumer spending of 10% from chains to local businesses would generate added economic activity in San Fran including job creation.

• The "Six Sins of Greenwashing"

  The recent surge of environmental awareness in North America is unmistakable. Less studied is the apparent increase in “greenwashing” – false or misleading green marketing claims.

• The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics

  In a study comparing the economic impact of ten Chicago businesses and their chain competitors, Civic Economics found that locally-owned businesses generate a substantial Local Premium in enhanced economic impact. (2004)

• Comprehensive New Study Examines Impact of Katrina and Rita on Louisiana Businesses

  Researchers studied the change in the total number of firms by parish and industry in Louisiana to measure and analyze the number of firms could be “verified open.” This report captures data for about 96 percent of companies in the state.

• Understanding the Fiscal Impacts of Land Use in Ohio

  In seven of eight communities included in this summary report of impact studies, retail development created a drain on municipal budgets (i.e., it required more in public services, such as road maintenance and police, than it generated in tax revenue). By Randall Gross, Development Economics, August 2004

• Fiscal Impact Analysis of Residential and Nonresidential Land Use Prototypes

  Big box retail, shopping centers, and fast-food restaurants cost taxpayers in Barnstable, Massachusetts, more than they produce in revenue, according to this analysis by Tischler & Associates, July 2002

• Effects of Wal-Mart on Local Labor Markets

  From The Public Policy Institute of California

• Street Survey of Business Re-openings in Post-Katrina New Orleans

  A survey of St. Claude Street, Magazine Street, and Carrollton Avenue documenting how much more quickly local stores opened after Katrina than regional and national chains.