Crime's Impact on the Survival Prospects of Young Urban Small Businesses

30 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2007

See all articles by Timothy Bates

Timothy Bates

Wayne State University - College of Urban, Labor, & Metropolitan Affairs; University of Vermont - College of Arts and Sciences

Alicia Robb

University of Colorado at Boulder; Next Wave Impact; Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Date Written: October 2007

Abstract

High prevailing levels of criminal activity have numerous impacts on the viability of urban small businesses and the various impacts are not uniformly negative. It is the negative impacts, however, that are most often noted. Either the perception or reality of rampant crime can scare away customers, potential employees, lending institutions, even casualty insurance underwriters. Yet, competitors may also be driven away. Operating in a high-crime area can be advantageous, on balance, for some firms. Our analysis of nearly 5,000 urban businesses started between 1986 and 1992 indicates that those most seriously impacted by crime exhibit no measureable disadvantage regarding firm size, capitalization, survival rates, or other traits, relative to firms whose owners report that crime has not impacted them negatively.

Suggested Citation

Bates, Timothy and Robb, Alicia, Crime's Impact on the Survival Prospects of Young Urban Small Businesses (October 2007). US Census Bureau Center for Economic Studies Paper No. CES-WP-07-30, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1028521 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1028521

Timothy Bates (Contact Author)

Wayne State University - College of Urban, Labor, & Metropolitan Affairs ( email )

Detroit, MI 48202
United States

University of Vermont - College of Arts and Sciences ( email )

United States

Alicia Robb

University of Colorado at Boulder ( email )

Leeds Business School
Boulder, CO 80309
United States

Next Wave Impact ( email )

7455 Park Lane Road
Longmount, CO 80503
United States

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

1000 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309-4470
United States