Whether we like it or not, Amazon has created a two-hour-delivery culture where speed is of the essence. As 3D printing and autonomous production develop, travel times from order-to-delivery will continue to shrink.
Shipping items around the world isn’t going to get any cheaper. As global manufacturing costs trend toward parity businesses will be less inclined to manufacture their products overseas.
Right now, most global brands manufacture their products overseas and create a significant carbon footprint transporting them from their factories to the local distribution center or retail outlet. Manufacturing locally eliminates most of the pollution and costs associated with the transportation.
This is perhaps the most compelling reason to re-localize the global economy, especially in an age when multinational corporations are able to avoid paying their fair share of taxes that would otherwise be reinvested into local communities. Buying locally makes economic and ecological sense for many compelling reasons.
We are rapidly approaching the Blockchain Age which, among many other things, will allow the consumer to trace the origin of every product in their shopping cart with a single click. The shorter the chain, the more trust consumers will place in products and brands.
Multinational corporations are dependent on their employees — not only for their labor but also for their spending. The drive for efficiency becomes counter-productive if it eliminates jobs and reduces wages. Consumers will prioritize local purchasing so long as the online environment necessary to support this activity exists.