Local community

Local community is a geographically defined community, a group of people living close to each other.

The term community suggest that its members have some relations that are communal - experiences, values, and/or interests may be shared, they may interact with each other and are concerned about mutual and collective well-being.

Local community has been a issue of concern in social criticism and theoretical sociology, among others, especially in contrast to the modern society. The central idea, either expressed or rejected, is that local community has been in decline, if not lost, in our contemporary life.

Benefits of local community

The benefit of local community is not limited to its appeal to popular imagination. Some empirical and theoretical research has indicated a range of benefits.

The interpersonal ties (often called community network) within a local area enables various resource-sharing among the networked people. Lending small amount of money among the individuals (micro-lending) is one form of this sharing.

It may take a more subtle form of paying attention to each other and watch delinquent of criminal activities, as well as accident, leading to a higher public safety and lower crime rate.

In general, diffusion of innovation research suggests that peer network plays a great role in the process of diffusion of knowledge and practices throughout a society. Medical practices and advices which enhances the public health and sanitation would be shared among people more effectively when there is a strong interpersonal networks. Adoption of new technologies would often occur throught the network. (See also two-step flow of information and opinion leadership)