report image with graphic designs of the connection webs of people
Economic Inclusion and Climate Equity

February 2017

By Chris Benner of the Everett Program at UCSC and Manuel Pastor of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) at USC

In collaboration with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)

Please note: reports dated earlier than June 2020 were published under our previous names: the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) or the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII).

The United States is projected to become a “majority-minority” country before 2050, with demographic change no longer being driven by immigration but by births. Coupled with this change, however, has been an increase in economic insecurity and extreme political polarization threatens to pull the country further apart during a time in which we need to grow together.

In this report, Benner and Pastor argue that businesses must use the opportunities that change brings to emphasize the economic need for greater diversity, and that “when we all adjust more gracefully to the shifts in both who we are becoming and how the economy now works, we are able to help our metropolitan regions prosper.”

Download report

Diversity and Inclusion for the 21st Century Economy: An Imperative for Chambers of Commerce

Infographic of key findings in the report on diverse communities, demographic change, immigrant-ownd businesses, and benefits of diversity

Read our other publications by research area

    Immigrant Integration & Racial Justice

    Our work on immigrant integration and racial justice brings together three emphases: scholarship that draws on academic theory and rigorous research, data that provides information structured to highlight the process of immigrant integration over time, and engagement that seeks to create new dialogues with government, community organizers, business and civic leaders, immigrants and the voting public to advance immigrant integration and racial equity.

    Economic Inclusion & Climate Equity

    In the area of economic inclusion, we at ERI advance academic theory and practical applications linking economic growth, environmental quality, and civic health with bridging of racial and other gaps; produce accessible and actionable data and analysis through the data tools; and establish research partnerships to deepen and advance the dialogue, planning, and actions around racial equity, environmental justice, and the built environment.

    Social Movements & Governing Power

    ERI’s work in the area of governing power includes: conducting cross-disciplinary studies of today’s social movements, supporting learning and strategizing efforts to advance dialogues among organizers, funders, intermediaries, evaluators, and academics, and developing research-based social change frameworks and tools to inform—and be informed by—real-world, real-time efforts towards a vision of deep change.

    Publications Directory

    In 2020, the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) and the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII) merged to form the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI).

    The full list of publications published under our previous and current names can be found in our publications directory.

    a view of the Los Angeles skyline