Unsubscribe from the global streaming service for a month. Go to a local comedy show, a local theatre production, or a local band’s gig. Subscribe to your local newspaper (yes, the print or digital one). The Future of Local The future is not about autarky—closing borders and buying nothing from anyone. That is isolationism, not localism. The future is about resilience .
Furthermore, the rise of remote work supercharges local economies. When a software engineer moves from San Francisco to Boise, they bring a San Francisco salary into a Boise local economy. This is a massive transfer of wealth that, if channeled correctly, can revitalize Main Streets across the country. They say you are what you eat. But more accurately, you are where you spend. Unsubscribe from the global streaming service for a month
The word "local" has power because it cuts through the noise of globalization. It reminds us that we are not just consumers in a sea of 8 billion people; we are neighbors on a specific block. We are citizens of a specific town. The global economy will take care of itself. But the local economy? That requires your help. The Future of Local The future is not
However, in the context of economics and community, generally refers to businesses, goods, and services that are owned, operated, and primarily consumed within a specific, limited geographic region. It implies a closed loop: money comes in, circulates, and stays. Furthermore, the rise of remote work supercharges local
When you spend $100 at a big-box chain store, a significant portion of that money immediately leaves the community. It goes to a headquarters in another state, to shareholders on Wall Street, and to manufacturing plants overseas. Studies suggest that only $13 to $43 of that $100 stays in the local economy.