Elena Soderblom

My Research

The COVID pandemic was a transformative time for all of us, and for the restaurant industry. Unemployed and in quarantine, I realized I needed to find a way to make life better in food service. I began to study economics as a path toward a more successful future for the people I loved. I am now completing my Master’s in Economics at American University, with a mission to finding new business models where both hospitality businesses and hospitality employees can find economic success.

This fall, I will complete my thesis. As part of this project, I am hoping to compile an extensive database of the actual state of the restaurant industry.

Confidentiality

The information you share, if you participate in this study, will be kept completely confidential. We will ask for no personal identifying information beyond your email address. Your answers will be held in strict confidentiality and will be used only for the purposes of this and future studies related to the study of the labor market in hospitality. The results will be reported in aggregate form only, and cannot be identified individually.

I also make you a personal promise: my mission is to make life better for the beautiful people of the restaurant industry. I am asking for this information to help you and your colleagues. I will never share anything beyond aggregate data with any ownership or management of any business, or allow anyone else to do the same. The answers you share here will be held in my confidence.

If you have any questions, or you want to get to know me better, please email me at es4822a@american.edu.