Rafael A. Mangual discusses how crime affects economic conditions and the concept of affordability. He argues that public safety and economic prosperity are closely connected, influencing housing prices, investments, educational outcomes, and overall quality of life.
1. Affordability in Public Discourse: Affordability is a dominant topic in political discussions, focusing primarily on housing and living costs. Politicians often promise solutions to make life cheaper for constituents but tend to overlook how public safety helps foster affordability.
2. Consequences of Crime on Economic Well-being: High crime rates can lower property values, reduce investment in neighborhoods, and hurt residents' economic prospects. Mangual argues that policies neglecting public safety can lead to dire economic consequences, such as decreased investments and increased costs associated with crime.
3. Social Costs of Crime: A study from 2007 estimated that crime costs the U. S. around $290 billion annually, accounting for victim losses, criminal justice system expenses, lost productivity of offenders, and intangible costs like emotional distress.
4. Impact on Education: Crime negatively affects educational performance. Studies have shown that exposure to violence can lower students' test scores and, over time, affect their economic mobility. Concerns for personal safety during youth can hinder academic and career focus.
5. Disparities in Crime Victimization: Specific groups, particularly Black and Hispanic communities, are disproportionately affected by violent crime. This reality exacerbates existing wealth gaps, especially since homeownership is a primary source of wealth for many families in these demographics.
6. Home Values and Safety: Crime directly impacts home values. Studies show that even perceptions of crime can decrease property prices and result in lower tax revenues for local governments, which can stifle community investment.
7. Public Safety and Investment: Efforts to improve community conditions through investment are often hindered by high crime rates. Retail theft and unsafe conditions deter businesses, leading to closures and a decline in neighborhood vitality.
8. The Role of Policy in Affordability: True affordability cannot emerge from merely subsidizing costs, especially if crime and disorder are allowed to flourish. Safety must be prioritized, as it creates the conditions necessary for economic success and community development.
Rafael A. Mangual emphasizes that addressing crime is essential for improving affordability. Imbalances in public safety and issues of affordability are interlinked; thus, policymakers need to focus on creating safe environments for all residents. To ensure that affordability leads to economic growth, prioritizing public safety is crucial, echoing the concept that safety should come before any affordability agenda.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/crime-disorder-safety-affordability-cost-cities
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