Conclusion

Researchers, including Civic Economics, have in recent years developed a better understanding of the economics of local retail and service provision. The premise that locally-owned and operated businesses generate greater local economic activity than their chain counterparts has become widely understood and accepted. In communities across the nation and abroad, public policy has adapted to this reality through a variety of planning and zoning tools.

Even more widespread is the consumer-driven “buy local” movement. In the Phoenix area, Local First Arizona is among the leaders in this movement, with hundreds of participating businesses and supportive individuals uniting behind a marketing campaign to allow concerned citizens to support those firms that make Phoenix special.

Despite the widespread consensus that local retail firms promote strong local economies, there has been little research into the economics of local contract procurement even as national firms have entered every market in America. Prior to this study, neither Civic Economics nor any other research organization could put a dollar value to the impact of traditional local suppliers like Wist.