James M. Hohman, Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy [Mackinac Center]

Michigan Unemployment Rate Down to 13.6 Percent

New data was released yesterday from Michigan's Office of Labor Market Information that indicates Michigan's economy may be recovering. … more

Published on June 18, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Taxpayers Have Already Made Compromises

Published on June 7, 2010 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Clear Conclusions from a Muddy Report on Michigan Tax Burdens

Published on May 24, 2010

Michigan Service Tax Defended by Phantom Facts

Published on May 3, 2010 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

State Employee Pay Grows 25 Percent Above Inflation Since 1999

Published on April 23, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Analysis of Michigan Film Subsidies: Two Years, $117m - and No Film Job Growth

It has been two years since Michigan's film subsidy program became law, which is sufficient for it to have gotten off the ground and had some measureable impact on the state's economy. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18 months after its launch there were 9.8 percent fewer people employed by the film industry in Michigan than when the subsidy program began. … more

Published on April 21, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Facts for Tax Day in Michigan

Today is April 15, the last day to file your 2009 tax return. Protests are happening around the state alleging rampant growth of government, overtaxation and overregulation.
Here are some facts about taxes in Michigan. … more

Published on April 16, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Taxpayers Never Get Early Retirement

Published on April 13, 2010 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Michigan Public Employees Compensation Growing Despite Concessions Claims

Spokespersons for Michigan government employee unions contend that they have given up hundreds of millions of dollars in wages and benefit concessions over the past few years. The claims are in dispute, and data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis offers some support for those challenging them. It shows that since 2000, government employee compensation in Michigan has increased 11.4 percent, while private sector employees are getting 5.1 percent less. … more

Published on March 31, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Employment and Personal Incomes Better, But…

Two releases from government statistical agencies this week show that the state's economy is still pretty bad, but that its long fall may have finally bottomed out. The state unemployment rate is 14.1 percent, down from its peak. Michigan's per capita personal income was down again, but Michigan was not the worst in the country. … more

Published on March 26, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Census Data: State Economy Suffering More Than State Budget

Published on March 24, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Legislative Pay Evidence of a Larger Problem

Published on March 11, 2010

Michigan Service Tax Proves (Groucho) Marx Correct

Published on March 8, 2010 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Headlee’s Social Welfare Problem

Published on Feb. 9, 2010 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

The Lowdown

Published on Jan. 28, 2010 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

How to Find and Eliminate Wasted State Money

Published on Jan. 4, 2010 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

The Mississippi Example

Published on Dec. 4, 2009 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Should Commercialize Its Rest Areas

Published on Dec. 4, 2009 – Michigan Privatization Report

School Privatization Survey Shows Gains in Support Service Contracting

Published on Dec. 4, 2009 – Michigan Privatization Report

Inspection Competition: Townships Find They Have Options

Published on Dec. 4, 2009 – Michigan Privatization Report

Michigan: “A+” for Corporate Welfare, “F” for Economic Growth (Revised Version)

Published on Nov. 13, 2009

Michigan Economic Dysfunction Corporation

Published on Oct. 5, 2009 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

School Privatization Survey Shows Gains in Support Service Contracting

Published on Sept. 7, 2009 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Diminishing Private Sector Keeps Supporting Bloated Public Benefits

Published on Aug. 3, 2009 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Diminishing Private Sector Keeps Supporting Bloated Public Benefits

Published on July 7, 2009

Michigan Exports Are the Bright Spot in the Dark Economy

Published on May 21, 2009

There’s More to Michigan Than the Auto Industry

Published on April 28, 2009

Michigan Unemployment Since the 2007 Tax Increase

Published on April 21, 2009

Tax Day Highlights Burden of State Government

Published on April 6, 2009 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Michigan’s Many Tax Ranks

Published on March 23, 2009

MEGA Competition: Brewer’s Tax Credit Distorts Competition

Published on March 12, 2009

Good News About the Bad Economy

Published on Feb. 9, 2009 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

State of Crisis

Published on Feb. 3, 2009

Michigan’s Economic Dreams Subsi-Dying on the Vine

Published on Jan. 29, 2009

Recall Showdown in Reed City

Published on Jan. 16, 2009 – Michigan Privatization Report

An Ann Arbor Tale: Government Golf Slices City Revenue

Published on June 17, 2008 – Michigan Privatization Report

Free Trade a Boon to Michigan’s Ailing Economy

The competitors who are eating Michigan’s lunch aren’t Mexico or Canada, but other states where investors and entrepreneurs enjoy lower tax rates, better labor climates and fewer excessive and unreasonable regulations. … more

Published on May 5, 2008 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

The Right-to-Work Advantage in Economic Growth: A Look at Past Performance

Published on April 28, 2008

Government Golf Slices City Revenue

Published on April 15, 2008

Legislators’ Hollywood Dreams Defy Economic Reality

Published on April 10, 2008

Putting the University’s Cart Before the Economy’s Horse

Clearly, if one is looking for the cause of economic growth or decline, the relative number of bachelor’s degrees in a state is a weak indicator at best.. … more

Published on April 7, 2008 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Personal Income Figures Show That the Michigan Slide Continues

Published on March 27, 2008

Mamet on the Money

Published on March 24, 2008

New State Job Loss Figures Confirm Need for Policy Reforms

Published on March 12, 2008

Poetry Slam

Published on March 6, 2008

Globalization is Good for Michigan

Published on Jan. 25, 2008

Selling MSHDA Programs Can Raise Millions

Published on Jan. 8, 2008 – Michigan Privatization Report

State Government Wants to Subsidize a Theme Park in Grayling Township

Published on Oct. 4, 2007 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Creative Contracting Saves Districts Money

Published on July 5, 2007 – Michigan Privatization Report

MSHDA: Providing Housing for the Poor or for the Cool?

Published on July 5, 2007 – Michigan Privatization Report

Alarming Economic Statistics Scream Out Against Raising Taxes

Published on June 15, 2007

Fast-Growth States Have Lower Taxes — Not More Grads

The 10 states with the lowest tax burdens are growing at an average rate of 2.6 percent — almost double Michigan’s growth rate and 34 percent faster than the national average. … more

Published on April 9, 2007 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Taken For a Ride

It bears noting that any park or other amusement facility that must rely on tax dollars, rather than private investment, is by definition not viable and thus unworthy of taxpayer support. … more

Published on April 9, 2007 – Viewpoint on Public Issues