A Bottom-up Perspective on Sdgs: The Subsistence Marketplaces Approach

Purpose This paper outlines the unique bottom-up perspective that the subsistence marketplaces stream of research provides on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as how the SDGs can influence future work in subsistence marketplaces. Approach We present an overview and commentary on the subsistence marketplaces stream of research, referring to people and communities who live on low incomes, and its implications for the SDGs. Findings In contrast to other approaches at the intersection of business and low income, the subsistence marketplaces stream of research employs a bottom-up perspective to understand life circumstances at a micro level. As a result, unique synergies connecting a diverse set of stakeholders have been developed across research, education, and social enterprise. The subsistence marketplaces perspective emphasises how the SDGs can be addressed while listening to the voices of subsistence consumers as sustainable solutions are developed for large challenges such as poverty, hunger, education, justice, and equality. In turn, the use of SDGs provides insight into future directions for stakeholders working in subsistence marketplaces.