I just realized that I am the only one driving the entire economy in Tamriel.

I mean I do see a couple of peasant NPCs hanging around the markets, but they seem to be there for the chit-chat and certainly can't afford the septims it takes to purchase steel plate armor. I walk into Belethor's, and he's so glad to see me because apparently I'm the only one buying a batch of dragonpierce arrows from a newly arrived shipment. What would happen to the economy if I didn't roam around, stocking up for my next adventure?