Dataset of the subnational index of the Economic Freedom of North America for comparison of individual jurisdictions (provincial/state and municipal/local governments) within the same country. The Economic Freedom of North America measures the extent to which the policies of individual provinces and states are supportive of economic freedom—the ability of individuals to act in the economic sphere free of undue restrictions. The subnational index employs 10 variables for the 92 provincial/state governments in Canada, the United States, and Mexico in three areas: (1) Government Spending, (2) Taxes, and (3) Regulation.

Este trabajo actualiza y modifica "Del PAN al PANS: un puente a la libertad económica para los residentes de Puerto Rico". Al igual que el documento original, este trabajo explica el origen, las características y el funcionamiento de la subvención en bloque del gobierno federal de Estados Unidos que actualmente recibe Puerto Rico para operar un programa de asistencia nutricional. Comparamos sus limitaciones con el sistema de beneficios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP). Analizamos el posible cambio de la subvención en bloque al SNAP y el potencial de este programa para permitir que más personas trabajen y procuren su sustento y el de sus familias. Se considera el efecto sobre la actividad económica de los fondos federales destinados a la reconstrucción y construcción de infraestructura en la Isla. Finalmente, analizamos cómo los incentivos del SNAP podrían crear condiciones favorables para que aumente la tasa de participación laboral y lo que esto significa para la libertad económica del pueblo de Puerto Rico.

This paper updates and modifies "From NAP to SNAP: A Bridge to Economic Liberty for Residents of Puerto Rico." As the original document, this paper explains the origin, characteristics, and operation of the United States federal government’s block grant currently received by Puerto Rico to operate a nutrition assistance program. We compare its limitations with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit system. We analyze the possible change from the block grant to SNAP, and the potential of this program to enable more people to work and provide for themselves and their families. The effect on the economic activity of the federal funds allocated for the reconstruction and construction of infrastructure on the Island is considered. Finally, we discuss how SNAP incentives could create favorable conditions for the labor force participation rate to rise and what this means for the economic liberty of the people of Puerto Rico.

Full dataset of the Economic Freedom of North America that measures the extent to which the policies of individual provinces and states are supportive of economic freedom—the ability of individuals to act in the economic sphere free of undue restrictions. It includes a subnational index for comparison of individual jurisdictions (provincial/state and municipal/local governments) within the same country, and an all-government index for comparison of jurisdictions (federal governments) in different countries. For the subnational index, Economic Freedom of North America employs 10 variables for the 92 provincial/state governments in Canada, the United States, and Mexico in three areas: (1) Government Spending, (2) Taxes, and (3) Regulation. In the case of the all-government index, we incorporate three additional areas at the federal level from Economic Freedom of the World Annual Report: (4) Legal Systems and Property Rights, (5) Sound Money, and (6) Freedom to Trade Internationally. In addition, we expand area 1 to include government investment, area 2 to include top marginal income and payroll tax rates, and area 3 to include credit market regulation and business regulations. These additions help capture restrictions on economic freedom that are difficult to measure at the provincial/state and municipal/local level.

This paper explains the origin, characteristics, and operation of the United States federal government’s block grant currently received by Puerto Rico to operate a nutrition assistance program. We compare its limitations with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit system. We analyze the possible change from the block grant to SNAP, and the potential of this program to enable more people to work and provide for themselves and their families. The effect on the economic activity of the federal funds allocated for the reconstruction and construction of infrastructure on the Island is considered. Finally, we discuss how SNAP incentives could create favorable conditions for the labor force participation rate to rise and what this means for the economic liberty of the people of Puerto Rico.