How to use REMI to calculate the economic contributions of Brazilian immigrants to the Boston economy.

1. “imagine all the people series” - Brazilian Foreign-Born Immigrants in
Boston
Alvaro Lima – Director of Research - BRA
REMI PRESENTATION

2. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
 “imagine all the people” is a series produced by the Boston
Redevelopment Authority Research Division for the Mayor’s Office of
New Bostonians that highlights immigrant communities in Boston and
their contributions to Boston’s social, cultural and economic life.
 As part of the series and as one of the top ten foreign-born communities
in Boston, Brazilian community was a first community we analyzed.
BOSTON’S TOP TEN COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
Haiti 10%
Dominican Republic 8%
China* 7%
Vietnam 6%
El Salvador 4%
Jamaica 4%
Cape Verde 4%
Colombia 3%
Ireland 3%
Brazil 3%
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%
*China mainland only, excludes Hong Kong and Taiwan
Source: U.S. Census 2000, BRA Research Division Analysis

3. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT (CONT.)
 For the analysis of Brazilian foreign-born population we used 2000
Census Public Use Microdata (5%) Sample (PUMS), and performed
special tabulations in order to find out the main socio-demographic
characteristics:
 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
 OCCUPATIONS
 SELF-EMPLOYMENT
 REMI was used to calculate the economic contributions of Brazilian
foreign-born people and Brazilian owned businesses in Boston.
 CONUSMER SPENDING IMPACT
 ENTREPRENEURSHIP IMPACT

4. •POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
Brazilians by Gender Brazilians by Age
 Over 7,000 foreign-born
9%
Brazilians live in Boston.
41%
47%
 Most are male (53%), 53%
single (45%) and 50% 50%
are between the ages 20
and 34 – a greater
portion of young adults Male
Female
0-19 20-34 35+
than in the general
Boston Population (33%) Brazilians by Citizenship Status
15%
 Fifteen percent of
Brazilian foreign-born
immigrants in Boston are
U.S. citizens by
85%
naturalization.
Naturalized Citizens
Non Citizens
Sources: U.S. Census 2000, PUMS (5%) Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis

5. BRAZILIAN
POPULATION BY
CENSUS TRACTS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, BRA Research Division
Analysis, Digital Cartography & GIS

6. •EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
 Brazilians are more likely to hold a high school diploma (28%) than
all native born (25%) and foreign-born (22%).
Educational Attainment for Population 25 Years and Older
Brazilians Foreign-Born Native-Born
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Less than High School Some High School High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree
Graduate/Professional Degree or Highe
Sources: U.S. Census 2000, PUMS (5%) Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis

7. •OCCUPATIONS
 A little over two thirds of Brazilians in Boston are employed.
 The labor force participation rate of Brazilians is 75%, compared with
63% for the rest of the population.
 The unemployment rate among Brazilians is 3%, compared to 7%
citywide.
Occupations for Population 25 Years and Older
Brazilians Foreign-Born Native-Born
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
ManagerialTechnical, Sales & Administrative Support
and Professional ServiceConstruction, Extraction & Production OccupationsSocial Services Occupations and Media Occupations
Occupations Transportation Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports
Community and Other
Sources: U.S. Census 2000, PUMS (5%) Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis

8. •SELF-EMPLOYMENT
 More than 13% of Brazilians in Boston are self-employed, a rate more
than three times that of the foreign–born population and almost four
times the self-employment rate of the native population.
 A high self-employment rate may be explained by high rates of
financial capital among Brazilians as well as the fact that they
emigrated from a country that also has a high self-employment rate.
Share of Self Employed Workers
Brazilians Foreign-Born
16.0%
14.0%
12.0%
10.0%
8.0%
6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
Self Employed
Sources: U.S. Census 2000, PUMS (5%) Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis

9. ECONOMIC IMPACT USING REMI POLICY INSIGHT
 Two-Part Analysis
Impact of Consumer Spending by Brazilians in
Boston
Impact of Brazilian Owned Businesses in
Boston

10. •IMPACT OF CONSUMERS SPENDING
 Brazilian immigrants contribute to Boston’s economy through their
spending.
 REMI calculated the value of goods and services consumed on each
dollar spent.
 Brazilians spend, from their after tax earnings, nearly $132 million in
Boston, annually.
 These annual expenditures:
 Generate a regional product of $124 million in local expending;
 Generate $36 million in State and Federal taxes;
 Create 1,104 indirect jobs in the local economy.
Sources: U.S. Census 2000, PUMS (5%) Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis

11. DATA USED TO CALCULATE TOTAL CONSUMER SPENDING
Population 7,173
Average Household Size (National Average) 2.7
Number of Households 2,657
Per Capita Income (2005 Estimates Based on National
Data) $ 24,714
Average Household Income $ 66,728
Total Gross Income $ 177,274,143
Amount of Income Sent Back to Brazil* $ 10,902,960
Amount of Gross Income Retained Locally $ 166,371,183
Effective Amount of Income Spent in Boston (After
Taxes) $ 132,334,548
* $342 / month per household sent back to Brazil
Sources:

12. REMI INPUTS - IMPACT OF BRAZILIAN CONSUMER SPENDING
Percent of Total
Expenditures
(Consumer Exp
REMI Variable Detail Survey) 2005 State Sales Tax Total
Consumer Spending (amount) Vehicles and Parts 0.134 16,846,188 886,641 17,732,829.39
Computers and
Consumer Spending (amount) Furniture 0.029 3,645,817 191,885 3,837,701.88
Consumer Spending (amount) Other Durables 0.014 1,760,049 92,634 1,852,683.67
Consumer Spending (amount) Food and Beverages 0.147 19,453,179 398,790 19,851,968.67
Consumer Spending (amount) Clothing and Shoes 0.039 5,161,047 5,161,047.36
Consumer Spending (amount) Gasoline and Oil 0.028 3,705,367 389,064 4,094,430.91
Consumer Spending (amount) Fuel Oil and Coal 0.01 1,323,345 1,323,345.48
Consumer Spending (amount) Other Non-durables 0.017 2,249,687 112,484 2,362,171.68
Consumer Spending (amount) Housing 0.296 39,171,026 39,171,026.12
Consumer Spending (amount) Household Operation 0.018 2,382,022 2,382,021.86
Consumer Spending (amount) Transportation 0.01 1,323,345 1,323,345.48
Consumer Spending (amount) Medical Care 0.048 6,352,058 6,352,058.29
Consumer Spending (amount) Other Services 0.21 27,790,255 27,790,255.02
TOTAL 1 131,163,387 2,071,499 132,334,548
Government Spending state 9,517,013
Suffolk 1,016,945
4 Co. Region 4,955,655
Sources:

13. REMI RESULTS – IMPACT OF BRAZILIAN CONSUMER SPENDING
Number of Jobs Supported in Massachusetts 1,104
Gross Regional Product Contribution
(Massachusetts) $ 123,646,096
Total Output Contribution (Massachusetts) $ 203,505,300
Indirect Personal Income Generated
(Massachusetts) $ 38,060,000
Total State Income Tax Paid $ 7,445,514
Total State Sales Taxes Paid $ 2,071,499
Total Federal Income Taxes Paid $ 26,591,121
Sources:

14. •IMPACT OF BRAZILIAN OWNED BUSINESSES
 Brazilians contribute to Boston’s economy through entrepreneurship.
 They own more than 150 small businesses in the greater Boston area
specializing in restaurants, grocery, travel and insurance among other
industry sectors.
 Combined these businesses:
 Represent more than $40 million in annual sales;
 Employ more than 400 people;
 Contribute $24 million to the regional product;
 Contribute $2 million in State and Federal taxes;
 Contribute to a total of 653 direct and indirect jobs to the region.
Sources: U.S. Census 2000, PUMS (5%) Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis

15. DATA USED TO CALCULATE IMPACT OF BRAZILIAN OWNED
BUSINESSES
No. of Businesses 150
Total Number of Employees (Direct Jobs) 400
Restaurants 200
Grocery Stores 100
Travel Agencies 60
Insurance Agencies 40
Sources:

16. REMI INPUTS – IMPACT OF BRAZILIAN OWNED BUSINESSES
Variable Detail 2005
Industry Employment (Industry
Sales / Int'l Exports) (number) Food services, drinking places -200
Industry Employment (Industry
Sales / Int'l Exports) (number) Retail trade -100
Industry Employment (Industry
Sales / Int'l Exports) (number) Administrative, support services -60
Industry Employment (Industry
Sales / Int'l Exports) (number) Ins carriers, rel act -40
Government Spending (amount) State -$181,855
Sources:

17. REMI RESULTS – IMPACT OF BRAZILIAN OWNED BUSINESSES
Total Number of Direct and Indirect Jobs Supported in Massachusetts 653 2005
Non-Direct Jobs Supported in Massachusetts 253
Total Gross Regional Product Contribution in Massachusetts $ 60,719,065
Non-Direct Gross Regional Product Contribution in Massachusetts
(Non-Brazilian) $ 23,542,230
Total Output Contribution in Massachusetts $ 108,868,685
Non-Direct Output Contribution in Massachusetts (Non-Brazilian) $ 42,210,987
Total Personal Income Generated in Massachusetts $ 26,180,000
Non-Direct Personal Income Generated in Massachusetts (Non-
Brazilian) $ 10,150,611 -200
-100
Total State Income Tax paid (Non-Direct/Non Brazilian Workers) $ 426,326 -60
Total State Sales Taxes Paid (Non-Direct/Non Brazilian Workers) $ 25,504 -40
Total Federal Income Taxes Paid (Non-Direct/Non Brazilian Workers) $ 1,522,592 -$181,855
Sources:

18. •TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BRAZILIANS
Total Number of Jobs Created 1,757
Gross Regional Product contribution
(Massachusetts) $147,188,326
Total Output Contribution in Massachusetts $245,716,287
Total Non-direct Personal Income Generated in
Massachusetts $ 48,210,611
Total State Income Taxes Generated $ 7,871,840
Total State Sales Taxes Generated $ 2,097,003
Total Federal Income Taxes Generated $ 28,113,713
Sources: