While Americans continue to (generally) move South and West, New Mexico sticks out as a bastion of slow population growth among its fast-growing neighbors. It is hardly surprising that the charts (population growth from the US Census and Economic Freedom from the Fraser Institute) below match up rather well.
After all, while Americans obviously like warm weather and the beauty of the American West they also need employment and don’t usually want to pay high taxes. Needless to say the list of wants can become quite long but the aforementioned are SOME of the major factors in recent population shifts.
What is “Economic Freedom”????
New Mexico’s lack of growth is due to
1) High Crime Rate
2) Poor Quality Education
3) High Unemployment (no Jobs)
Who wants to move a State where you car will get stolen, your kids will get a lousy education and you can’t find a job?
Agree on crime and education. A lack of economic freedom is the cause of number 3. Simply put, you get to make decisions in economic freedom, not the government. Low taxes, limited regulations enforced fairly, less spending.