The crime rate in 2021 is hitting worrying levels in many countries across the world. This uptick in crime began in 2020, a result of increasing job losses, and poor performance of the overall economy. In a large number of countries around the world, criminal activities started rising steadily since early last year.
Crime rates are directly related to the economic performance of any country. When there is a scarcity of jobs, most people, especially the youth, are vulnerable to partaking in criminal activities to fund their lifestyle. This has definitely been the case across most of the world, including the USA, where masses of people are currently struggling with personal financial problems.
There are many factors that are causing job loss and pushing up the crime rate. Though each country has been affected differently, there are common factors that have resulted in economic crises worldwide. They include:
Economic Meltdown
In the year 2020, we experience a massive economic meltdown across the world. With economies of countries like China, the United States, and entire Europe almost grinding to a halt, everyone has been affected. The level of unemployment rose by a huge margin in a matter of months.
The US had its lowest unemployment in 50 years at 3.5% in May, 2019. By May 2020, the unemployment rate had risen to 14.7% due to the economic crisis and the governments enforced regulations. States like Hawaii and Nevada remain the most hit by job losses due to the collapsing tourism industry, which is one of their biggest employers.
The Halting of International Travels
Economies across the world are interdependent. The slowdown in international travels in 2020 resulted in an economic recession in many parts of the world. Countries like Thailand that depend heavily on tourism have been hard hit. These problems have caused a crisis of epic proportions through lack of income and the resulting massive job losses. “The economy here is in dire trouble,” said Jet, from Hand to Hand Visa Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand. “With no tourists coming in, a huge percentage of the population are not able to earn an income, pushing more people into lives of crime.” The increase in the crime rate, especially in major cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket, has been noticable.
Extended Lockdowns
Lockdowns have had a negative impact on every countries' economy. Almost all countries have fallen far behind where they stood at the end of 2019, economically speaking. With many companies and businesses closing down, many people have lost their jobs. Some employers did not manage to reopen even with the lifting of lockdowns, struggling under debt incurred while unable to earn an income. “This is the main reason why crime the rate is higher,” said a local criminal defense lawyer. “Many families are struggling with no income, no food, and no money to pay rent. They're not left with much choice but to turn to crime if they can't find an alternative means of income.”
Advancing Technology (Automation)
Not everything about the high crime rate can be blamed on poor economic performance. Advancing technology has also been shrinking employment opportunities. Automation is quickly becoming the first choice for running operations in many industries. Even within the hospitality industry, you can now order food using a machine, reducing the need for wait staff. The manufacturing industry, which is the world's biggest employer, is opting for machines to replace humans too, to increase outputs, precision and reduce costs.
The crime rate may come down as more countries open up their economies. However, job creation will likely take a while to get back to where it was at the end of 2019. This means the problem is not going away any time soon. We remain optimistic that there is an economic recovery on the horizon, but until then, stay safe out there.
