Crime and Law In St. Louis County Mo
How St. Louis County Crime Effects the Economy
The county of St. Louis, Missouri has a reputation for having a high crime rate despite intensive efforts of the community and law enforcement to curb criminal activities. It has consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous places in the United States. We can’t help but wonder if the problem of crime in St. Louis County (MO) has any effect on the county and their economy. Apparently, it does.
Economic Effects of Crime in St. Louis, Missouri
Brian Hall, the marketing director of Saint Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, remarked that the bad rap for the crime in St. Louis County (MO) damages many prospects of business investments in the county. In a board meeting, one question about the crime problem in Saint Louis is enough to turn potential investors away.
The high crime reputation of this Missouri County has subverted many business dealings in the past. This is due to the fear among investors of setting up shop in 2016’s most dangerous city in the U.S. So much so that Steve Johnson, the vice president for economic management and development of St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce, and his colleagues consider this as a serious economic development issue in the county that needs to be addressed.
With local business leaders, law enforcement of Saint Louis County Missouri are advocating for a radical revision of the computation of the county’s crime rate by combining data from St. Louis City and the county. This will account for the rate of crime in a larger population and geographical area rather than in St. Louis' city alone. If approved by the FBI, this strategy is projected to knock down Saint Louis from the top five spots of most dangerous cities in the U.S. This strategy could also reduce the need for many of the bail bond companies in St. Louis County.
Effects of Crime on the Economy in Missouri
The economic effects of crime in St Louis County, Missouri echo the general arguments of economists as to how the perception of high crime directly affects an area’s economic growth. When an area is perceived to have a high rate of criminal activities, business and real estate investors hesitate to invest.
The lack of businesses and real estate investments directly affect a county's revenue. A lack of revenue means a lack of funds for social projects for education, social welfare, transportation, public health, and security. The perpetual poverty cycle is hard to escape, and Saint Louis’ reputation as an area with high criminal activities is not helping.
A city or county with high rates of murder and rape often falls to the wayside when investors are scouting for new areas to dominate. However, the unique case of St. Louis County makes the situation even more complicated. The combination of data from both crime in St. Louis county (MO) and the city might change the rankings of Saint Louis in the dangerous cities list. Although, the deep-seated perception of business investors and the general public is trickier to deal with. How will you change a decades-old habit of conjuring up images of gangs and criminals when hearing “St. Louis?” This is something that will require more than a statistical revision.