Michigan is in serious trouble. We are at or near the bottom on many indicators of economic progress and prosperity. Despite a strong national economy, our unemployment rate stubbornly remains well above average, payroll employment is in decline, and we're in our sixth year as a below-average income state. The Great Lakes State may be at the tipping point of going from poor relative performance to absolute decline in population, income and wealth. The seriousness of this cannot be overstated.
For more than 15 years the Mackinac Center for Public Policy has called attention to these trends, and issued a steady stream of recommendations on how to turn them around. We’ve backed these recommendations with empirical evidence showing that wherever pro-growth policies are given a chance, the result is prosperity.
In this feature we have assembled a “resource bank” for those seeking to reverse the state's decline. There are links to outside studies showing how Michigan’s economy compares to other states, links to many of the Mackinac Center’s most relevant studies and recommendations, and a selection of the best articles and columns from newspapers.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.