However, various social and economic barriers have prevented the creation of market institutions in some areas. The goal of CED then is to create mainstream institutions in previously neglected areas. Finally, mainstream capitalism separates communities from the wealth creation process. In this scenario, the role of CED organizations is to better link marginalized groups to the mainstream economy, not to create economic institutions that replicate or replace mainstream institutions. The important concept here is not wealth creation or development, but economic opportunity.
Economic opportunity allows access to all of the goods and services generated in the economy.
All three approaches to the mainstream economy create economic opportunity. The difference in this third approach is that the opportunity comes from linkages to the mainstream rather than through alternatives to the mainstream. Perspective on the Individual CED organizations vary tremendously in the way that individuals are incorporated into their work. Some have a structuralist orientation where the focus is on how the environment impacts the individual. Individuals are viewed as capable, and the problem is predominately a lack of economic opportunity.