Local markets are key economic devices that ensure local cultural and economic stability. Where a commercial complex governed by chains exploits an area for its labour and removes proffits, market systems support small-scale producers and local artisans whilst focusing on the interaction between the consumer and retailer. Building trust in this area can promote local economic activity and can reinforce community ties through a ballet of interactions on the sidewalk.

In a local market the exchange of goods is deeply connected to the cultivation of local relationships that are built upon the ideas of trust agency and dignity. These gatherings encourage personal interaction, counteracting the alienation that often arises in modern, commodified economies that are rooted in unsustainable practices. From a sustainability perspective, local markets promote shorter supply chains, reducing the environmental impact of transporting goods over long distances.