Buying Locally as a Form of Economic Stimulus

With all the attention the current stimulus package is getting in the press it’s little wonder why one of the most beneficial ways to stimulate the economy on a micro scale has been over looked time and time again. Buying locally grown and locally made products is possibly the best way a person can stimulate the local economy and generate growth within their own hometown’s economic sector. This method of economic encouragement often goes unconsidered due to the fact that most people, especially politicians, are considerably more concerned with the macro picture of the economy rather than the city-sized or town-sized picture.

Buying locally produced products and services not only benefits the consumer due to the fact that local businesses are far more apt to offer exceptional customer service and products, but also because the money and profits generated are far more likely to be re-spent locally as well. Supporting local businesses as often as possible benefits the local economy from the ground up, and helps to dampen the need for a government-based economic bailout. The profits from the produce you buy at the local farmer’s market will help local families and if everyone was able to agree to try to buy locally produced products and services, they would all benefit from each other. This domino effect would go a long way in helping to economically bail out the average American family.

People are proud of their local products and services when they are able to better become an integral part of the community. During the holidays, locally owned and operated businesses cities with “buy local” campaigns due exceptionally well compared to their chain store counterparts. Also, people are more likely to continue to buy locally when they see positive results from their buy local efforts reflected back into the city. Recessions are felt by every citizen in a nation, but each citizen can do his or her part to slowly rebuild the economic and social structures of both goods and services production as well as social networks, welfare programs, and other programs that benefit the less fortunate in their respective cities and towns.

Strong local governments are also the first step in strong local communities. Communities that rely more on themselves through purchasing locally produced goods and services are far more apt to feel the pain of a wide-scale economic recession due to their self-reliance. Social outreach programs would have more far-reaching effects due to the fact that local businesses and citizens would help to keep the profits within the city limits. Strong outreach and welfare programs equal strong economic growth for everyone, not just those business owners making the most profit or the politicians who have insulated themselves with lobby money. In a time where many nation-wide retail and grocery store chains are putting mom and pop local businesses out of business at an alarming rate, it may be time to reconsider where we buy our goods and services. Everyone wins when we buy local and doing so creates a stimulus package at the grass roots level that we can all agree on.