Why D.C.’s high-profile shootings are such a huge problem

Non-criminals also fear crime and will go to great lengths to avoid it, such as staying home or moving. All else equal, City A, with its high crime rate, is more likely to end up with abandoned houses, empty storefronts and deserted streets — a much more attractive place to commit crimes than a street bustling with residents and shoppers. City A will also probably have a faltering tax base, which will make it harder for government to reverse these trends, whether that’s through more police or higher social spending.

Source: WP