In the last few years, there's been a lot of talk about how downtowns and big cities are hollowing out,

how they're falling apart, and how they're at risk of something

called the doom loop.

Perceptions of a city spiraling into what headlines are calling a doom loop.

The doom loop calling it a doom loop. The doom loop.

Threatening cities beyond New York, Dallas, Chicago.

Do you think Philadelphia is in one of these urban doom loops?

Sue, I think that certainly is what we're engine towards.

Voters concerns are crime, homelessness, and the so-called doom loop.

The doom loop is this big buzz word right now when people talk about downtown office district.

That's our colleague Conrad Putsia.

What people mean by Doomloop is the self-reinforcing cycle

where people stop going to the office. Buildings become empty and that

causes all these ripple effects and it's really something that every city is

kind of afraid of right now. While many cities are worried about falling into a

doom loop Conrad found a city that's actually in one, St. Louis. I think what makes St. Louis unique is that it's kind of far along in this doom loop already,

and way further along than some other cities.

It started earlier there, and this is really what the future looks like for other cities if they can't stop this slide of companies moving and businesses closing the self-reinforcing cycle.

Welcome to the journal, our show about money, business and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza.

It's Tuesday, April 16th.

Coming up on the show, the cautionary tale of St. Louis's Doom Loop. This episode is brought to you by Empower. If you're like most people, you've had your fair share of financial questions.

Questions like, will you be able to afford a third kid?

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