Studies that link economic organization, be it the manufacturing, retail, or agricultural sector, with community
engagement often focus on the concept of embeddedness the extent to which market exchanges are mediated by
other social ties (Block 1990; Hinrichs 2000; Murdoch
et al. 2000). It is possible for actors to carry out exchanges
through the market in an anonymous and detached manner.
This type of economic relationship is commonplace in
modern industrial societies. But business can be conducted
in the context of varying degrees of social embeddedness
(Block 1990). Individuals may know one another personally or be linked through any number of social relationships
that influence the character of the economic activity. This
can shape an exchange from one in which anonymous
individuals are solely seeking to gain advantage and
maximize personal return, to one in which mutual benefit,
social support, and community well-being are given greater
attention. This is not to suggest that such considerations
supersede the economic exchange that is still the primary
motivation for these interactions, but the economic activity
is mediated to varying degrees by other, non-economic
social ties.