Thesis Proposal
Small businesses are considered “a major component” of the economy of the City of Ventura and “should be supported” ( City of Ventura, 2013, p. 20). This is because more than half of the employment base of the entire Ventura County comes from small businesses. The Ventura Chamber of Commerce likewise supports the strong economy through city policy and business development. According to the members of the chamber, their membership helped them gain more contacts which benefits their businesses as well. The contributions of small and medium-scale businesses to the growth of a city has been discussed in several studies which presented evidence of the benefits small businesses bring to the city, not only on the aspect of economic growth but also in social improvement of the community.
What is the Impact of the small and medium-scale enterprises adopted by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce on the economic growth of the City of Ventura?
Independent Variables
According to Paychex, “small businesses employ 50 million Americans,” and “generate over $11 trillion in receipts per year” (Ciccone, 2012, n.p.). As the independent variables focuses on the characteristics of the small businesses, the values that will be measured include the following: (a) membership to the Chamber; (b) length of operation; (c) number of employees; (d) type of business; and (e) current net worth.
Dependent Variable
Several studies claim that small businesses result in positive gains for the communities. Blanchard, Tolbert & Mencken claim that areas with a higher concentration enjoy better health, while Muske, Woods, Swinney & Khoo attest that since micro-businesses employ local workers, cash moves within the community. In addition, the findings of Blanchard & Matthews (2005) showed that political participation tend to decrease in communities where business is dominated by a few business establishments. To investigate the effects of the independent variables on the city’s growth, the following dependent variables will be tested: (a) poverty rate; (b) unemployment rate; (c) membership in local organizations; (d) health; (e) literacy; (f) crime rate; and (g) political participation.
References
Blanchard, T., Tolbert, C., & Mencken, C. (2011). Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society. doi: 10.1093/cjres/rsr034.
Blanchard, T., & Mathews, T. (2006). The configurationof local economic power and civic participation in the global economy. Social Forces, 84(4). Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/social_forces/v084/84.4blanchard.pdf.
Ciccone, Al. (2012). Paychex study measures impact of small businesses. The Huffington Post, May 8.Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/paychex-infographic-small-business_n_1501082.html.
Muske, G., Woods, M., Swinney, J. & Khoo, C. (2007). Small Businesses and the Economy: Their Role and Importance Within a State’s Economy. Journal of Extension, 45 (1). Retrieved from http://www.joe.org/joe/2007february/rb4.php.
Thesis Proposal
Research Question
What is the Impact of the small and medium-scale enterprises adopted by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce on the economic growth of the City of Ventura?
Independent Variables
- Membership to the Chamber
- Length of operation
- Type of business
- Current net worth
Dependent Variables
- Poverty rate
- Unemployment rate
- Membership in local organizations
- Health
- Literacy
- Crime rate
- Political participation
