Can someone explain the difference between this and not buying, say, locally made shoes, or clothes, rather than clothes made cheaper somewhere else?<p>To me it&#x27;s the same.  You&#x27;re supporting the people for whom you have some affinity by nationality, ethnicity, history, interaction, geography, etc.  However, most people (with few exceptions) don&#x27;t show the same favor for goods one could argue would benefit the local industry and our society (and also be contrarian to globalization) by buying the more expensively produced local or at least American [or native nation(ality) of shopper] goods?<p>I&#x27;m not advocating for either, you do as you choose, but it seems a bit contradictory or maybe people identify more with the bookseller (who is just a middle person) rather then the cobbler or shoemaker, tailor or seamster&#x2F;seamstress who actually physically make the things themselves.