Joanna Masri
Research Mentor: Hasher Nisar
Mentor Department: Political Science, LSA
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 4 (1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 65
Abstract
Mosques are usually described as social and cultural centers, but their economic influence is rarely discussed. This project addresses this gap by examining how mosques shape the political and economic development of the communities surrounding them. Specifically, it asks whether the presence of a mosque contributes to increased local business activity and job creation. To investigate this question, the study draws on a national dataset of approximately 2,700 mosques across the United States. As part of this process, I contributed to the verification, deduplication, and coding of mosque-level data, ensuring accuracy and consistency across the dataset. This includes conducting research on individual mosques to collect key variables such as establishment history, community characteristics, and institutional features. The dataset is then combined with geographic and economic data and analyzed using GIS and R programming. In addition, qualitative interviews with mosque members and leaders provide insight into how these institutions engage with and support local economic activity. This research argues that mosques do more than provide religious services; they may also strengthen local networks and foster environments that support small businesses. By highlighting the economic role of religious institutions, this project contributes to broader discussions on community development and challenges conventional understandings of places of worship as solely spiritual spaces. Ultimately, it offers insight into how Muslim communities can better understand and leverage their role in local economic ecosystems.
