077 Economic Freedom of NM Metro Areas

Paul interviews Dean Stansel, a professor at Southern Methodist University. Stansel is the author of the Fraser Institute’s “Index of Economic Freedom of North America” which ranks US states (and Canadian provinces and Mexican states) on economic freedom. In this episode, however, Paul talks to Dean about his “Metropolitan Area Economic Freedom Index” which was recently published by Reason Foundation.

Out of 382 areas ranked, New Mexico has four metro areas (Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Farmington, and Las Cruces) included. Where do they rank and why? What are the challenges associated with such an ambitious project? What can municipal governments do to improve their economic freedom?