Mahesh Somashekhar

Examines Christian nationalism as an economic movement by analyzing how retailers on the conservative e-commerce site PublicSquare market themselves. Finds that some retailers presented their products as tools to be used in a culture war against Christian nationalism’s enemies. Highlights the need to consider the economic implications of Christian nationalism alongside its political, cultural, and religious aspects. 

Examines whether the negative effects of gentrification are more strongly tied to race or class. Finds that while White and non-White displacees experienced similar rates of involuntary displacement and often moved to poorer areas, White displacees had higher incomes and came from wealthier neighborhoods, softening the impact.

Analyzes Craigslist rental ads from U.S. metro areas to examine how real estate advertisers market homes in mixed-income neighborhoods. Findings show that real estate advertisers continue to rely on rhetorical strategies that likely reinforce, if not encourage, privacy and exclusion in mixed-income neighborhoods.

Evaluates how the organizational response of LGBTQ communities to the AIDS crisis—arguably the most prolific era of organizational creation in LGBTQ history—differed between large hubs and other cities. Findings make clear the risks of generalizing about LGBTQ life from large hubs alone.

Examines how the legal status of Mexican and Central American immigrants (MCAs) affects their chances of owning a business. Finds that undocumented immigrants were less likely to own businesses than documented immigrants, though undocumented immigrants who did own businesses earned similar incomes to their documented counterparts.

Examines how businesses owned by marginalized groups respond to minimum wage increases using data from Seattle’s $15 minimum wage rollout. Finds that immigrant-owned businesses generally respond similarly to other businesses, though immigrant-owned franchises are less likely to cut jobs, hours, or wages.

Shows how retail development, including growth in coffee shops and boutiques, thrives when gentrifiers are white. Shows there is hardly any additional retail growth when gentrifiers are black.

Uses a geodemographic marketing data source alongside Census data to analyze gentrified neighborhoods in Chicago from 2000 to 2017. It finds that "gentrifiers" come from diverse lifestyles, challenging the idea that they belong to a specific social group or demographic.

Shows how African-American business owners are unable to draw on financial and social support in the same ways that immigrant business owners can in the United States.