Outcomes of economic Decline on Neighborhoods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outcomes of economic Decline on Neighborhoods

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Institution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Change

Change is inevitable, and it comes in different forms and levels. Whether organized or disorganized, communities are too prone to change either by the wealth and purpose or the density of the residents. Economic decline causes many adverse effects on the residents’ way of life and values in urban areas where rapid structural changes in the economic composition often lead to a surge in crime rates and a significant migration of the population to more affordable areas. For example, the coronavirus pandemic’s current situation has negatively affected the economy in all communities. These adverse effects led to unemployment where companies could no longer sustain their salaries, which saw many people shift to less expensive neighborhoods or rural areas. Crime has also been seen to increase because of despair in people to meet their needs. However, communities with relatively high poverty levels are seen to encounter fewer crime levels as their way of life was not substantially disrupted.

Community Fear

In organized neighborhoods such as in rural areas, people have a way of life where helping others is in-built and there is less or no fear of crime since they watch out for each other. For example, a farmer who owns a ranch will not worry about his farm produce being stolen since his neighbors also have their land to care for, and the crop also helps the community members. In unorganized urban areas such as slums where there are mostly low-income earners, residents experience violence due to unruly youths and drugs. The presence of idle teen minds with no income streams causes a rise in mugging violations, which draws fear and tension. This situation also causes vandalization to potential investors who would want to create initiatives in such areas.

Community Disorder

Increased poverty, family disruption, and general communal disorganization are the leading factors of the rise in crime rates, which creates fear. For instance, lack of initiative for proper education and a high number of dropouts leave the population with many unstable youths prone to engage in drugs and crime. It happens even in organized neighborhoods where crime levels are at a minimum, any adverse change in the area is a sign of social disconnection. When young adults have no positive influences or parents lack finances to further their education, they end up in crime due to poor transition into adulthood; even for the ones brought up in the best of manners.

Siege Mentality

The brain is the strongest control organ in human beings. When it fixes a conclusion on a certain matter, it becomes embedded into a person character. In areas where there is frequent crime cases, people tend to be always on the lookout, and this creates anxiety. For instance, if a group of youths are always seen by residents idling along the streets or at drug corners, it is normal to assume that the group is up to no good. The residents might have to avoid the routes where they could encounter such individuals. Communities considered to be economically poor have a greater probability of having a siege mentality because in such areas, security becomes a personal responsibility. Lack of trust in the government and law enforcement comes from the fact that they do not provide social amenities such as affordable schooling, street lights and general proper infrastructure, which is their sole objective.