Journal Article
Small Business Performance in Industries in LMI Neighborhoods After the Great Recession: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles
O'Dell, Mark; Newberger, Robin G.; Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2019)
Small businesses are essential to the economic infrastructure of both lower-income and higher-income neighborhoods. In this report, we compare small business performance in lower-income vs higher-income areas. Findings offer some directions for growing small businesses in LMI and ethnic/minority neighborhoods
Profitwise , Issue 3 , Pages 1-20

Discussion Paper
Ethnic immigrants enclaves and homeownership: a case study of an urban Hispanic community
Rhine, Sherrie L. W.; Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2000)
Consumer and Community Affairs Policy Studies , Paper 2000-6

Journal Article
Developing small businesses and leveraging resources in Detroit: an informed discussion among financial institutions, policymakers and Other stakeholders in Detroit
Newberger, Robin G.; Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2013-04)
In October 2012, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Michigan Bankers Association and the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan co-sponsored a symposium in Detroit that brought together business experts, business owners, policymakers, funders and bankers to explore issues around access to small business credit and financing in Detroit. As Alicia Williams, vice president of the Community Development and Policy Studies (CDPS) division, explained in her opening remarks, the symposium was a follow-up to meetings hosted around the country by the Federal Reserve System?s Community ...
Profitwise , Issue Apr , Pages 1-11

Newsletter
Strategies for improving economic mobility of workers - a conference preview
Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2007-12)
On November 15-16, 2007, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Economic Research Department and Consumer and Community Affairs Division, along with the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, will cosponsor a conference to present research on policies, practices, and initiatives affecting low-wage workers.
Chicago Fed Letter , Issue Dec

Working Paper
The importance of check-cashing businesses to the unbanked: racial/ethnic differences
Toussaint-Comeau, Maude; Greene, William H.; Rhine, Sherrie L. W. (2003)
The roughly 9.5 percent of all U.S. families that are without some type of transaction account (unbanked) are disproportionately represented by minorities. The unbanked often must rely on alternative ways to carry out basic financial transactions such as cashing payroll checks and paying bills. This study analyzes unique survey data and finds that a consumer's decision to patronize check-cashing businesses is jointly made with the decision to be unbanked. For the unbanked, these businesses are an important source for financial services. Attributes that contribute to these decisions, however, ...
Working Paper Series , Paper WP-03-10

Journal Article
Resource Utilization among Black Small Business Owners in Detroit: Results from a Questionnaire
Toussaint-Comeau, Maude; Newberger, Robin G. (2014)
One of the most important ways for small businesses to access capital is through connections to resource networks. Business networks are the set of arrangements and information platforms that business owners use to increase exposure and sales, gain knowledge of their markets, develop financial management skills, and familiarize themselves with sources of financing. Networks can also connect people to other service providers, such as nonprofit organizations and professionals that support business owners through technical and financial training, referrals, legal services and procurement ...
Profitwise , Issue 1 , Pages 1-14

Working Paper
The impact of Mexican immigrants on U.S. wage structure
Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2007)
Previous study by Card and Lewis (2005) has found (puzzling) that inflows of Mexican immigrants into ?new? metropolitan areas have had no effect on the relative wages of very low-skill (high school dropouts). Rather, Mexican workers do affect relative wages for high school graduates. Whereas Card and Lewis? study uses variations across geographies, this paper considers variations across occupations. Recognizing that Mexican immigrants are highly occupationally clustered (disproportionately work in distinctive ?very low wage? occupations), we use this fact to motivate the empirical approach to ...
Working Paper Series , Paper WP-07-24

Newsletter
Self-employed immigrants: an analysis of recent data
Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2005-04)
This article identifies the factors that influence the self- employment decision for U.S. immigrants, including human capital, years in the U.S., geographic concentration, and labor market characteristics.
Chicago Fed Letter , Issue Apr

Discussion Paper
Access to credit and financial services among black households
Rhine, Sherrie L. W.; Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2000)
Consumer and Community Affairs Policy Studies , Paper 2000-1

Newsletter
Developing small businesses and leveraging resources in Detroit
Newberger, Robin G.; Toussaint-Comeau, Maude (2013-01)
On October 16?17, 2012, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Michigan Bankers Association, and the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan co-sponsored a symposium that brought together business experts, business owners, policymakers, funders, and bankers to address the issues of small business credit and financing in Detroit.
Chicago Fed Letter , Issue Jan