It is a common stereotype that Arabs own a lot of corner stores. One possibility is that Arabs are more likely to be self-employed. Another possibility is that Arabs may be more likely to live in urban areas, where there are more opportunities to open a corner store.
Demographics of Grocery Store Ownership by Immigrant Groups
These immigrants mentored a generation of grocery store owners, and by the 1980s Arab immigrants owned 98 percent of all grocery stores in Flint. At present, they own 96 grocery stores while Asian immigrants from India own eight stores.
The major immigrant groups currently active in business listed in the order of most stored owned by country of origin: Palestinians from the West Bank city of Beit Sahour and Israel proper, Chaldeans from the city of Telkeif, Iraq; Lebanese, and a mixture of Indians, Jordanians, and a single Egyptian.
Influence of Ramadan on Disability Rates in Uganda
Using Census data in Uganda we also find that Muslims who were born nine months after Ramadan are 22 percent (p =0.02) more likely to be disabled as adults. Effects are found for vision, hearing, and especially for mental (or learning) disabilities.
About Convenience Stores
The largest convenience store chain in the U.S. is 7-Eleven, with revenue of $87.60 billion. As of 2021, the global convenience store market size was valued at $2.12 trillion.
Convenience stores may be combined with other services, such as general stores and pawn shops, a ticket counter for purchasing railway tickets. In Asian countries like Japan convenience stores are more common because of the higher population density. They are found with gasoline and train stations, but also can be stand-alone stores.
Malls are more than places to buy products; they are places for social interaction, particularly in a country such as the United Arab Emirates, as the climate has made indoors, air-conditioned malls preferable for many members of the public.
Arab Gas Pipeline and Saudi Arabia’s Gas Reserves
The Arab Gas Pipeline is a feat of engineering at the heart of a supply grid between the key energy-importing states of the Middle East. The infrastructure, however, has faced several structural, logistical and security challenges over the years. Ministers from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan are meeting today to consider the supply of gas through the pipeline to energy-deficit Lebanon, which is undergoing a major economic crisis.
Now, however, Saudi Arabia has grand plans for its reserves of natural gas. It has three main goals: to double gas production (including from local shale resources), to eliminate the use of oil in power generation and to become a gas exporter – all by 2030. Saudi Arabia is reducing its dependence on the United States.
Ownership of Gas Stations and Convenience Stores
Is a gas station a good business to own? If you are an aspiring investor, then gas stations are a great option if located and run properly.
A convenience store may be part of a gas/petrol station, so customers can purchase goods conveniently while filling their vehicle with fuel. However, convenience stores make up for this loss by having longer open hours, serving more locations, and having shorter cashier lines.
Why do so many foreigners own gas stations? Because precisely they are foreign born and know they’d face job and future uncertainties, therefore they save to have their own small business. How many gas stations in the U.S. are owned by foreigners?
Why are so many convenience stores owned by foreigners? There are many reasons why foreigners might own convenience stores. One reason could be that they are looking for a stable investment in a developed country. Another reason could be that they see the convenience store industry as a growth industry with good potential for profitability.
A student recently asked, “Why are so many inner-city stores owned by foreigners?” This problem calls for economic analysis. The answer involves the nature of incentives and opportunity costs in competitive industries. Perhaps the student’s casual observation requires some empirical confirmation. Such a study would likely show that proportionally more convenience stores in the inner city have first-generation immigrant owners than in the suburbs. To move the question along, I will presume that the student’s observation is correct.
Leaving one’s native country is a big decision. This might make ownership appealing to immigrants who fear they can’t compete in the job market otherwise. Third, many visas for foreigners require either a job or investment in the economy. Owning a store may satisfy visa requirements for some people, while providing them with an ongoing income to stay in the country.
Target Consumers for Convenience Stores
Accordingly, who are the target consumers for convenience stores? The typical customer at a convenience store is a blue collar male between the age of 18 and 34. Beer and cigarettes together represent about 1/3 of merchandise sales. However, Luna’s is targeting the "Yuppies," as the professional market grows.
Cultural Factors in Ownership of Gas Stations and Convenience Stores
It’s partly a cultural thing, owning property is considered a big thing in SE Asian culture. Back home in Pakistan and India, owning land is what the wealthy people did, so that was brought over when people left. Owning property/real estate is the most popular investment, and gas stations/convenience stores are attractive options because they can be run by a single person most of the time, and don’t require any formal education (you just sit there and take people’s money), so immigrants who don’t even speak English can do it.