A new Harvard Business Review article (August 2025) presents striking research by Kristina McElheran and Juan Camilo Castillo on the long-term economic impact of school shootings. The findings should give pause to community leaders, corporate stakeholders, and anyone working in violence prevention.
Their study, based on two decades of data, reveals that school shootings are not only devastating tragedies for students and families—but also have measurable and lasting economic consequences for the surrounding communities.
Key Findings:
Sustained decline in local employment and wages-
Communities that experience a fatal school shooting see a notable reduction in employment levels and average earnings—particularly among young workers. The effect persists for years and is not explained by demographic shifts or short-term disruptions.
Outmigration and brain drain-
School shootings often accelerate the departure of families and working-age adults from the area, contributing to long-term population loss and weakened local labor markets.
Reduced investment in youth and education-
Property values drop, municipal revenues shrink, and investment in local schools suffers, deepening the harm for students who remain in the community.
Violence prevention is also economic resilience.
For BTAM professionals and public policy leaders, this reinforces what we already know: proactive intervention isn’t just a moral obligation—it’s an economic one. While the direct human cost of school shootings rightly garners attention, the indirect consequences can destabilize communities for decades.
This research strengthens the case for fully funding threat assessment teams, strengthening school-community partnerships, and ensuring schools have access to trained professionals who can intervene early—before tragedy unfolds.
Link to article is here: https://hbr.org/2025/08/research-how-school-shootings-are-felt-in-local-economies
-Jameson Ritter, CTM, CPP, PSP, PCI
Principal, Threatwise Global LLC