Like nature, communities are held together by a web of relationships, some of which extend beyond the community. The more communities understand these relationships, the better informed their choices will be. While there are many forces or dynamics at work in communities, three seem particularly important to building healthy and prosperous communities over the long term. They are economy, ecology and equity - the three E's. Economy - The first dynamic of community is economy.
Economy is the management and use of resources to meet household and community needs.
It still implies efficient and prudent use of resources. Think of the local economy as a household that includes the entire community. Managing the household involves budgeting and planning your resources to secure decent housing, enough food and clothing, and necessary utilities. Managing the household also includes preparing young people for independence and taking care of those who are not able to care for themselves. Just as households must meet certain needs, healthy local economies must meet certain common community needs.