Will Southfield Privatize the Arts?
The Detroit suburb is considering selling its poorly managed and underused performing arts center. … more
Sinking Proposal A
A bill that would allow school districts to use "sinking funds" for the same purposes as regular school bonds would effectively circumvent Proposal A's property tax limits. … more
Pushing the Right Buttons
A bill introduced in Congress by U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood would address "push-button unionism" and other defects of federal labor law. … more
Privatize the "Porkies"
Does the state really belong in the ski resort business? … more
An Open Letter to Legislators
A nationally recognized economist explains what sound economic development policy is, and what it is not. … more
Enron, Worldcom, and Congress
Are more laws really the answer to corporate financial scandals? … more
Privatizing Prisoners
It's time to reform a state program that uses cheap prison labor to provide goods and services at the expense of private-sector businesses. … more
Hunting for Pork
With the help of lavish government subsidies, an out-of-state sporting goods company unfairly competes with a Michigan institution. … more
Privatization and the Blues
Why privatizing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a good idea. … more
Government's Bad "Investments"
A government "economic development" program is boldly going where three have failed before. … more
Michigan: A Renaissance State?
The tax relief bestowed upon certain government-selected "Renaissance Zones" should be applied throughout the entire state of Michigan. … more
The Feds vs. "Big Food"
The federal government has found a new crisis to valiantly battle: America's alleged "obesity epidemic." … more
Teaching Our Teachers
Should education courses be a primary focus of a teacher education program? … more
Cigarette Taxes Financing Terrorism?
Terrorists may be profiting from the resale of cigarettes smuggled from low-tax states such as North Carolina into high-tax states such as Michigan. … more
Drug Price Controls the Wrong Prescription
Political proposals to control drug prices don't take into account how "expensive" drugs help prevent even costlier treatments such as surgery. … more
The Crystal Gazer of Crystal Falls
Michigan's Emil Hurja helped transform American politics by pioneering the use of polling data. … more
Remembering Jefferson
Inspiring words from the author of the Declaration of Independence. Happy Independence Day from the Mackinac Center! … more
Repeal the Item Pricing Act
An outdated law prohibits Michigan retailers from taking advantage of cost-saving electronic price labeling.
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Summer Reading
Why not improve your mind while you work on your tan? See this list of classic free-market books to take to the beach. … more
Gold and Unemployment
A student Asks the Economist about how a gold standard would affect the unemployment rate. … more
Former Mackinac Center Scholar on C-SPAN
C-SPAN's "American Writers" series explores the life and work of Russell Kirk this weekend. … more
Michigan Wants School Choice; Not Necessarily Vouchers
New poll shows 67% support a Mackinac Center-style plan.
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No Autonomy for Special Ed
New special education rules make few changes for districts, students. … more
Dioxin Fear Makes Bad Policy
Unsubstantiated allegations of risk tarnish the reputation of a healthy community.
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Assaulting Free Speech by Suing
Washington Post columnist George F. Will predicts the Mackinac Center will easily defeat the MEA's "frivolous" lawsuit in court.
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Ingham County Commissioners Trample Employee Rights
County Commissioners improperly send letter approving unionization.
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Emergency Financial Manager Needs More Power
The Legislature needs to expand the authority of Emergency Financial Managers. … more
"Statesmanship: A Most Worthy Cause"
The best politician knows how to deftly manipulate the levers of power for personal advantage, but the statesman's allegiance is to loftier objectives. … more
Sinking Fund Debt - Another Proposal A End Run
A bill before the Legislature would allow school districts to do an "end run" around Proposal A. … more
Redford District Must Prove Sound Financial Management
Voters reject tax increase for Redford Union schools. … more
New Data Bolster Finding of Right-to-Work Report
A new study by two Ohio University economists bolsters the argument for a Michigan right-to-work law. … more
Election Consolidation?
Combining school and other elections would improve turnout and accountability. … more
Minority Students Achieve
A privately managed charter school in Flint is helping disadvantaged kids learn. … more
More Charter Schools?
A bill to raise the number of charter schools Michigan public universities can authorize failed in May, but may be revisited this month. … more
"Merit Pay" for Teachers
Should outstanding teachers be able to earn more than their peers with average or mediocre ability? … more
"Strict Discipline Academies"
Dealing with students whose conduct threatens the safety of school staff and other students. … more
The Next Energy Boondoggle?
Gov. Engler's attempt to involve the state in development of alternative energy sources is sure to be a fiasco. … more
Administrative Costs Soar
A growing percentage of Michigan public school funds are spent on administration rather than on teaching. … more
Schools to Get Grades
The State Board of Education has adopted a plan to give schools a letter grade according to their performance. … more
Got Taxes?
The federally mandated fees used to fund agricultural ad campaigns are disproportionately drawn from small-time farmers. … more
Time to Dispatch the 9-1-1 Mandate
An unfunded federal mandate regarding 9-1-1 services is causing a mess and costing a fortune. … more
Cut Taxes on Jobs
Congress should abolish the federal unemployment tax and allow states to run their own unemployment programs. … more
The Lottery and Schools
Michigan's state lottery, sold to voters as a way to provide additional funds for education, has turned out to be no great windfall for schools. … more
MEA Attacks Mackinac Center
Watch the Mackinac Center/Institute for Justice press conference on the MEA's lawsuit.
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Where in the World Is School Choice?
A Michigan home schooler's victory in the National Geography Bee provides the latest example of why more parents want alternatives to mediocre public schools. … more
It's the Spending, Stupid
Repealing Michigan's costly prevailing wage law would help balance the state budget.
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The MEA vs. Free Speech
Why is the Michigan Education Association suing the Mackinac Center? … more
Terms of Service
Gov. Engler has re-appointed Director of Labor Policy Robert Hunter for another term on the Michigan Civil Service Commission. … more
Currency Exchange Rates
A student Asks the Economist about exchange rates among world currencies. … more
Snake Oil vs. Crude Oil
Politicians proposing controls on the cost of gasoline are just selling political snake oil to voters who want lower prices at the pump. … more
Ethanol and Gas Prices
Ethanol subsidies return with a vengeance in the pork-laden farm bill signed into law Monday by President Bush. … more
Virtual Nonsense
Birmingham's "Virtual Reality fee" is really a punitive tax on the city's business community. … more
Privatizing Social Security
Why the collapse of Enron is not an argument against private, personally owned retirement accounts. … more
Thanks to Two Think Tanks
Happy 25th anniversary to Washington, D.C.'s Cato Institute and Heritage Foundation! … more
Dialing Without Dollars
Unfunded federal mandates regarding the 911 emergency system are imposing huge new costs on Michigan cell phone users. … more
Straightening It All Out
Is it time to end straight-ticket voting in Michigan? … more
A New Policy Blueprint
Mackinac Center policy recommendations to keep Michigan moving toward greater freedom and prosperity in the 21st century. … more
Federal Prison Industries Inc.
A division of the U.S. Justice Department that uses prison labor to provide goods and services to the federal government wants to expand into the private sector. … more
Health Car
What the cost of medical care has to do with your rising auto insurance premiums. … more
Rudyard and Kipling
The story of how two Upper Peninsula towns came to be named after a Nobel Prize-winning British author. … more
Keeping Clean and Green
Truly effective environmental policy is based on sound science, not doom-and-gloom propaganda. … more
Got Privatization?
The results of American School & University's annual privatization survey in Michigan Privatization Report. … more
Free at Last!
Today is Tax Freedom Day for Michigan citizens-the day when we stop toiling exclusively to pay federal, state, and local taxes. … more
Privatization and Schools
The Grand Rapids school district could overcome its budget crisis by privatizing school support services. … more
Perils of Privatization
A recent book offers sound advice for officials who wish to avoid common mistakes when privatizing public services. … more
Overcutting or Overspending?
Michigan's current budgetary problems are the result not of recently enacted tax cuts but of state overspending. … more
Privatization in Michigan
The state of Michigan has produced a balanced report that should prove useful for the future of privatization.
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Federal Labor Law Reform
Mackinac Center Director of Labor Policy Robert Hunter has accepted a position on a special panel of the U.S. Department of Labor. … more
Principles for Michigan's Growth
The Mackinac Center's new web site devoted to economic development issues is now online. … more
Reforming Education
Mackinac Center President Lawrence Reed testifies before Congress on ways to improve education for all children. … more
Prison Monopoly Threatens Jobs
A government agency that uses prisoners to produce goods is unfairly competing with private-sector firms. … more
Keeping the Faith
The issue of whether "faith-based" charities should receive public funding received national attention in the last presidential campaign. St. John's Home in Kent County shows how it should be done. … more
Conserving Government Waste
It's time to privatize Michigan's Depression-era, government-funded "Civilian Conservation Corps." … more
Virtual Nonsense
Birmingham's "Virtual Reality fee" is really a punitive tax on the city's business community. … more
Government Keeps on Taxin'
Citizens must keep digging to pay taxes long after April 15, as this classic Mackinac Center Viewpoint explains. … more
Taxes: Is Flat Really All That?
Is there a free-market case against moving to a flat, single-rate federal income tax? … more
Term Limits and State Government
It's too early to declare Michigan's experiment with term limits a failure. … more
Let There Be Light
Problems at Detroit's government-run Public Lighting Department could be alleviated by privatization. … more
Air Regs Threaten Jobs
A recent court decision has given the green light to new EPA air quality regulations that could prove costly to Michigan workers. … more
Minding Michigan's Business
Job creation in Michigan often has occurred in spite of, not because of, gimmicky state "economic development" programs. … more
Play Ball!-With Your Taxes
Introducing a new statistic for the 2002 baseball season: the government subsidies-to-victory ratio. … more
Hockey and Diversity
Sports fans gearing up for the hockey playoffs can take a lesson from this classic Mackinac Center Viewpoint about the free market's power to overcome old hatreds in the service of a larger goal. … more
Government and Recession
A student wants to know what steps government can take to help revive a flagging economy, so he Asks the Economist. … more
Energy Policy and Oil "Dependence"
Proposals to deal with America's "dependence" on foreign oil are an example of the cure being worse than the disease. … more
Time After Time
Standardized time zones were a private-sector innovation that government fought against. … more
Of Trees and Tariffs
Anti-protectionist J. Sterling Morton, who established Arbor Day in 1872, would be appalled at the new tariffs placed on imported lumber. … more
Disclosing Union Finances
A bill in the Michigan Legislature would require public-sector unions to disclose their finances to the same extent as publicly held corporations. … more
Supply and Demand of Labor
What causes shifts in the supply and demand curves for labor? A student Asks the Economist. … more
Was the Economy Ever "Unrestrained"?
A student Asks the Economist about the "unrestrained" economic activity of the 19th century. … more
Can Free Trade Prevent War?
Mackinac Center Board of Scholars member Richard Ebeling explores the question at a recent conference for Austrian economists. … more
In Defense of Outsourcing
How and why privatization creates a win-win situation for organizations and workers. … more
School Property Taxes
Is Gov. Engler's proposal to move the due date for the state school property tax to July really a tax increase for some Michiganians? … more
The Future of Education
Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman calls for school choice at a conference co-sponsored by the Mackinac Center. … more
Mr. Smith Is in Washington
Too many people believe in the "Frank Capra Theory" that someday Mr. Smith will go to Washington, end the corruption, and restore our liberties. … more
Of Bush and Beck
President Bush could act to protect union workers' rights by appointing to the National Labor Relations Board members who will uphold the Supreme Court's Beck decision. … more
Holding Unions Accountable
A bill inspired by a recent Mackinac Center study would help unionized public-sector employees see where their dues go. … more
Separating State and Internet
Will state legislators learn from Hillsdale's failed attempt at government-provided Internet access? … more
The Economy and the Budget
Is the proposed state budget a sound way to get through tough economic times or a quick political fix? … more
A Tariff-ic Cost to Consumers
This classic Mackinac Center Viewpoint about a Michigan Congressman from the 1930s perfectly illustrates the economic folly of protectionism. … more
