Hate Crimes Cost Americans $560M a Year, and That Number Is Rising

Hate has a price tag.

While the world juggles numerous challenges and decides where to allocate vital resources, the economic repercussions of hate crimes are emerging as a matter of pressing concern. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas didn't just heighten global anxieties; it precipitated an increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents.

Would understanding the financial implications of hate crimes cause world governments—specifically the U.S.—to spend more on preventing them?

Bard University's study titled "Economic Cost of Hate Crimes" revealed that the cost of hate crimes in the U.S. for 2019 was a staggering $3.39 billion. It's a figure that paints a vivid picture of the ripple effects that those crimes have on societal structures.

Addressing the intricate web of hate, from its manifestation in social media to long-term systemic issues, the study employs a cost-benefit analysis methodology. The breakdown for 2019 revealed that nonfatal hate crimes tallied up to roughly $2.88 billion and fatal ones added another $510 million.

For instance, Bard's analysis found that each incident of rape and sexual assault carries a financial burden of roughly $146,546.91. When you consider the 6,657 reported cases of rape and sexual assault, the cumulative annual cost to society amounts to $975,571,328.

What's the number like for 2022?

To provide more context, the Department of Justice (DOJ) defines a hate crime as "a crime plus the motivation for committing a crime based on bias." The FBI reported 13,711 victims of hate crimes in 2022, an increase of 929 over 2021.

Aggravated assaults, property vandalism and intimidation were among the top offenses for 2022. Considering all categories, hate crime, as defined by the DOJ, in the U.S. over the course of last year amounted to $553,606,211.64.

For businesses and homeowners, the tangible costs of repairs or replacements on property is evident. There's also an intangible toll. Decreased property values, increased insurance premiums and the erosion of community trust. Such crimes reverberate throughout local economies, discouraging investment and stifling growth.

The impact of crimes against property cannot be understated. Those acts, from vandalism to arson, inflicted direct financial damages to the tune of $6,013,394 last year.

The FBI's data, however, is an undercount since fewer than half of hate-crime victims report to the police.

And the tally for 2023 may be larger than last year, as U.S.-based advocacy groups have been sounding the alarm on the sharp rise of hate incidents. Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded a 388 percent surge in antisemitic incidents. In just 16 days, 312 incidents were reported, 190 of which directly tied to the Middle East conflict, CNN reported.

It is an alarming figure compared to 64 incidents in the same timeframe the previous year.

Beyond recent incidents, the trajectory of hate crimes has been on an upward curve for years. FBI data indicates that U.S. hate crimes are at their zenith since records began in 1991.

The conflict in the Middle East created aftershocks in the U.S., with hate incidents against Jews, Palestinians and Muslims escalating post-Hamas' attack on Israel. The ADL's numbers mirror the FBI's findings, noting a 400 percent spike in antisemitic incidents compared to the previous year.

College campuses are no strangers to the rising tension either. From pro-Palestinian rallies to accusations against Israel, the atmosphere is charged.

The economic costs of hate crimes, backed by above figures, bring forward the broader societal impact, and calls for government intervention. In an era of data-driven decisions, understanding the costs of hate is one step toward devising effective strategies to curb its spread.

While the figures highlight the economic implications, they also serve as a reminder that hate's true cost transcends dollars and cents.