The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global…

1/20/2010

Details the rise of locally owned businesses and how they can outperform multinational corporations both in consumer costs as well as community costs. The second half describes specific action that consumers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, community builders and globalizers can take to encourage and strengthen local economies.

This is an important book, and one that really changed the way I think about my purchasing choices. Instead of simply comparing cost of goods, I now think about the community impact and environmental impact of importing goods from other localities. I especially liked his balanced approach: he occasionally shops at Wal-Mart and addresses specifically why it is not particularly a deal. The chapter-ending checklists with simple things each group (consumers, investors, etc.) can do were particularly heartening and eye-opening. While what he proposes is a significant life change for some, it need not be black-and-white, either/or and it need not create extra work or financial hardship on those who undertake the project of creating sustainable local economies. ( )