The Pew Center on the States recently released its report, “Population Growth 2008-2018.”
The data generally show that US states are growing population-wise and that the population is moving South and West. The three fastest growing states (Utah, Texas, and Colorado) happen to neighbor New Mexico. Sadly, New Mexico, with all of those fast-growing neighbors, is not growing nearly as fast. In fact, New Mexico’s .41% growth rate is even lower than the US median state growth rate of .63%. We’re growing in line with Iowa and Kentucky, not our fast-growing and economically-free neighbors.
I am surprised we are not declining in population. The NE to SW movement started over 30 years ago and NM has done everything it can to discourage people and money from coming here. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are two of the oldest cities in the country, never mind the SW, and they are the smallest and least attractive to move to. High taxes and crime rates along with a failing educational system has doomed this State. The existing political power structure will also just make it worse. I admire organizations like the RGF who doggedly try to persuade the powers that be to follow a better way. Keep up the good fight even though I do not hold much hope.
Why has private sector employment been so anemic in NM compared to surrounding states, such as AZ, since 1930? In my opinion, single party Dem rule in NM that has favored government expansion and just can’t leave the private sector alone. Albuquerque has a new 500 page zoning code – Houston has none. NM exists in its current form because the federal government has spent an almost unlimited amount of money in the state since the 1940’s. God help the state if it ever runs out of other people’s money to spend. For those who have not seen it, here is the link to the famous Forbes “death spiral” article from 2015 with NM having the highest feedme ratio of 143 to 100. https://www.forbes.com/sites/baldwin/2015/12/22/which-are-death-spiral-states/#5a58b9106840