Here’s how tapping into your local Chamber of Commerce can elevate your research and bring real-world depth to your dissertation.

1. Access to Local Economic Data and Reports

Chambers of Commerce frequently compile and publish detailed reports on economic activity within their regions. These may include annual business surveys, industry-specific analyses, economic impact reports, and market forecasts. Such reports provide a snapshot of local economic conditions, offering students unique data that can inform research on topics like market trends, consumer behavior, industry challenges, and economic resilience.

For a dissertation focused on a particular industry or regional economic impact, these insights can be invaluable, allowing students to cite current, localized information that adds credibility and relevance to their work.

2. Insight into Small Business Trends and Challenges

For students interested in small business studies or entrepreneurship, local Chambers of Commerce can be a goldmine of insights. Chambers work closely with small businesses and are deeply familiar with the challenges, opportunities, and trends within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. They often conduct surveys or hold discussions that reveal the priorities and pain points of business owners, which can help students contextualize their research on small business resilience, innovation, or community impact.

This first-hand information is particularly useful for students studying how local factors affect small businesses and can be a unique angle for dissertations on entrepreneurship or local economic development.

3. Networking Opportunities with Business Leaders and Policy Makers

One of the greatest assets Chambers of Commerce offer is their ability to connect people. They frequently organize events, panel discussions, and networking opportunities where students can meet business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts. These connections can open doors to interviews, case studies, or first-hand accounts that lend authority and depth to a dissertation. Speaking directly with professionals who have practical experience in the field can provide unique insights that academic sources alone might not cover.

If interviewing a business leader or policymaker sounds daunting, Chambers often facilitate connections for students and researchers, making it easier to access valuable first-hand accounts.

4. Real-World Examples of Policy Impact and Business Dynamics

Many students writing dissertations in economics or public policy analyze how policies affect local businesses and communities. Chambers of Commerce frequently work with local and state governments, often acting as advocates for business-friendly policies. This position provides them with a front-row seat to observe how policies play out in real-time.

By working with your local Chamber, you can gain access to case studies and stories about the tangible impacts of regulations, tax policies, or trade decisions on businesses. These examples can be powerful additions to dissertations, allowing you to explore not just theoretical impacts but real-world outcomes that add depth to your analysis.

5. Understanding Community and Economic Development Efforts

Another area where Chambers of Commerce provide useful information is community and economic development. Chambers are often involved in initiatives that aim to attract investment, support local businesses, and create jobs. For students interested in economic development or urban studies, Chambers can offer a ground-level view of the strategies and programs that work (or don’t work) to stimulate growth and improve quality of life within communities.

These development efforts can be particularly useful for students writing case studies or exploring the interplay between economic growth and social outcomes in their dissertations.

Make Your Dissertation Stand Out with Chamber of Commerce Insights

Leveraging the resources of a local Chamber of Commerce can set your dissertation apart by providing up-to-date, real-world data and connections that many other students might overlook. From economic reports and case studies to networking opportunities and community insights, Chambers offer a variety of ways to enrich your research. By integrating this information with expert guidance when needed, you’ll be well on your way to producing a dissertation that is both academically rigorous and deeply relevant to real-world business and economic landscapes.

Incorporate these resources into your research strategy, and you’ll not only benefit academically but also gain insights into the broader economic forces shaping businesses and communities—valuable knowledge for any aspiring professional in the field of business, economics, or public policy.

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• In 2000, the labor force participation rate reached 67.1% and was last at its peak. 
• After the 2008 crisis, this figure fell sharply, reaching a minimum of 62.7% by 2014.
• Subsequently, the trend reversed, but the pandemic again lowered this figure to 61.7%.
• And today, despite all the conditions for a safe return to work, few have done so. As of April 2024, the labor force participation rate is only 62.7%.

Businesses are concerned about this situation, since many jobs are not closed, which affects the revenue and success of companies. At the same time, there is an interesting trend in the increase in the number of people who want to engage in business on their own instead of looking for favorable opportunities in the labor market. These two trends indicate that business models are changing in the United States and, to attract labor, large and medium-sized businesses should make concessions previously unthinkable for them.

What Happened to the Labor Market?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce closely monitors the state of the American labor market as it concerns many business people. The organization carefully collects and analyzes statistical data and conducts sociological research to understand the work behavior of the employed and the expectations and behavior of the unemployed. According to analysts, the key factor contributing to the decline of labor force participation in the United States is the rapid development of digital technologies.

How E-Commerce Changed the Labor Market

Digital commerce has revolutionized people’s understanding of doing business and offered business tools accessible to everyone. E-commerce made it possible to earn significant money without leaving home, promoting products and other platforms on social networks, blogging, streaming computer games, etc. Young people have become especially receptive to the opportunities of digital commerce and have most easily mastered new business practices. This affected the labor market since, instead of a natural renewal of the workforce, there was a significant outflow in favor of starting their own business, primarily in e-commerce. As a result of these processes:

• The older generation is retiring, freeing up jobs in the market.
• Young people, instead of competing for these positions, are seeking success in digital commerce by launching their projects.

Thus, in 2023 alone, more than 5.5 million new businesses were launched. This figure is the highest in recent years, but the growth is unlikely to stop there. The number of applications submitted to open new business in 2024 in the first few months has already reached almost 1 million.

The ease of launching your e-commerce project is facilitated by the low entry threshold for starting a business. Even those who previously unsuccessfully tried to grow their business projects, got into debt, and lowered their credit rating can try to do it again. Bad credit payday loans at FCLOANS gives them a chance to start over. By taking advantage of the simplicity of algorithms for making money on the Internet, they achieved significant success although they were plagued by failures in traditional ways of doing business.

Is Business Ready for New Employment Models?

Another consequence of the rapid development of technology is the popularity of remote work. The pandemic has made this form of labor organization a necessity. But even when it finished, many workers opted for remote work. And if the employer does not provide them with such an opportunity, they either leave in search of a more accommodating one or leave the labor market altogether, preferring the status of unemployed. Therefore, many companies experiencing labor shortages face a choice:

• Modernization at an accelerated pace to introduce automated systems that will perform some of the work that was previously performed by humans.
• Creating more jobs with opportunities for remote work and attracting specialists living abroad.
• Losing their competitiveness against the background of those companies that followed the first or second scenario.

The situation in the labor market in the United States has changed dramatically in recent years. Instead of competition for jobs, there was competition for employees. This means that the latter may demand more concessions from employers to remain active in the labor market.

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Professional and industry chambers of commerce represent the interests of specific industries or professional groups. They bring together companies and professionals working in a particular field to solve problems together and achieve common goals. An important part of their work is lobbying the interests of their members before the authorities at various levels.

American Medical Association (AMA): The AMA represents the interests of medical professionals, including physicians and medical organizations. They work to improve the quality of medical practice, regulate health care services, and make health care affordable.

American Automobile Association (AAA): AAA represents the interests of the auto industry, including automakers, dealers, and suppliers. They work on safety standards, environmental issues, and support for the auto industry.

American Bar Association (ABA): The ABA represents attorneys and legal professionals. They work to advance the legal profession, enforce rules and standards, and promote legal reform.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): NAM represents the interests of manufacturers and industrial companies. They deal with issues related to manufacturing, trade, innovation, and ensuring the competitiveness of American industry.

Benefits of participating in professional and industry chambers of commerce

Participation in professional and industry chambers of commerce can bring a number of benefits to companies and professionals:

• Lobbying: Chambers represent the interests of their members before legislative and executive bodies, helping to influence the creation of legislation and regulation favorable to the industry.
• Sharing expertise and resources: Chamber members can share knowledge, expertise and resources to help improve services and products.
• Networking opportunities: Participation in chamber events and activities allows for new business contacts and partnerships.
• Education and Training: Chambers provide access to educational resources and trainings to help professionals develop their skills and knowledge.
• Leadership opportunities: Chamber membership can provide opportunities to hold senior positions and influence the industry.

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The name chamber of commerce is applied to slightly different types of organizations in different countries. In the UK and Belgium, for example, they are voluntary associations whose members provide financial resources through subscriptions. In other countries of the European Union and in some Latin American countries, these are bodies whose functions, membership, financial resources, and organization are determined by law. In such circumstances, chambers of commerce and industry often take on responsibilities that are normally performed by local or central government elsewhere.

The name chambre de commerce was first used for a temporary commission established in Paris in 1601 to study industrial and commercial problems. The Marseille Chamber was founded in 1599 by that city and received a patent for letters in 1650; it was the first chamber in the sense in which the term is used today. A decree of Louis XIV ordered the creation of chambers to appoint deputies to the royal council of commerce in Paris. Thus, some of these organizations were founded during the 18th century, mainly in ports. The chambers were abolished during the French Revolution in 1791 and reestablished by Napoleon in 1804. Subsequent legislation redefined their functions, tasks, and constitution; the 1858 law still provides the basic framework, placing France’s chambers of commerce under close government supervision. The functions of these chambers are many; they typically include representing members’ interests before local and national authorities, issuing certificates of origin, appointing members to advisory committees, providing advice on import duties and commercial legislation, establishing training schools, and organizing exhibitions, public works, and managing ports or airports.

The first British chamber of commerce was founded in Jersey in 1768; as the territory closest to France, it naturally adopted the French title. This was followed by Glasgow and Belfast (1783); Edinburgh and Leeds (1785); Manchester (1794); Birmingham (1813); and Liverpool (1850). The Great Exhibition (1851) spurred the formation of 13 in that decade. Junior chambers of commerce (for entrepreneurs aged 21 to 40) were introduced in 1925; by the end of the 20th century, there were more than a hundred.

The oldest chamber of commerce in the United States is the New York State Chamber, formed in 1768, when New York was still a British colony. The first city chamber was established in 1773 in Charleston, South Carolina. The United States Chamber of Commerce, “a national federation working for good citizenship, good government, and good business,” was founded in 1912. At the end of the 20th century, its membership included more than 40,000 business members and more than 4,000 member organizations, including trade and professional associations and local, state, and regional chambers of commerce. More than 5,000,000 individuals and firms are core members of the National Chamber of Commerce. Its various departments have provided information and advice on all contentious issues between business and government, including regulations, costs, tariffs, taxes, and labor-management relations. Its monthly magazine, Nation’s Business, had a large circulation, as did its research publications, committee reports, special bulletins, and an annual booklet on the policies it advocated.

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Who are the Chamber Members?

Chamber members are businesses, organizations, and individuals who are interested in the socioeconomic climate of the community. These groups have come together because they have a better chance of achieving results when they speak with a collective voice. Chamber members can include a small hardware store on the corner, a mom-and-pop cafe, a well-known downtown bank, franchises and large retailers, and the local baseball team. There are no restrictions on the number and type of members who want to become members of a chamber of commerce.

Who leads the chamber?

A chamber of commerce is run by its members. They elect a board of directors that sets policies and goals. The chief elected officer presides over all board meetings. The day-to-day operations of the chamber are handled by a professional manager. This person is usually a paid employee. Some small chambers have a manager who is a volunteer or part-time employee. You can increase participation by encouraging members to serve on committees. Committees may include economic development, education, government relations, human resources, public affairs, and tourism.

What are the goals of the chamber?

As the chamber works to improve the economy and quality of life in the community, it keeps these broad goals in mind:

• Help businesses thrive and grow;
• Increase job opportunities;
• Encourage the orderly expansion and development of all segments of the community;
• Promote the overall economic stability of the community;
• Promote a national private competitive marketing system.

Chief Paid Executive Officer
The chief paid executive officer of a chamber of commerce serves as the chief executive officer, implementing the policies and directives of the membership.

Typical job titles in this classification:

• Executive Director;
• Executive Vice President;
• President;
• President and CEO or President/CEO.

Chief Operating Officer
The Chief Operating Officer is the chief operating officer of the Chamber. This position helps to manage and supervise staff to ensure that the day-to-day business operations of the organization are carried out.

Typical job titles in this classification:

• Deputy Director;
• Director of internal service;
• Executive assistant/office manager;
• Office manager;
• Senior Vice President of Operations.

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