Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took unprecedented actions in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state banned certain businesses from operating and even required the entire population of Michigan to stay in their homes under penalty of law. The constitutionality of these actions was questionable, and some were struck down by the Michigan Supreme Court. Now that the pandemic emergency has ended, it is time to assess the state of Michigan’s emergency actions both in terms of their effectiveness and their propriety.

At this Policy Forum, Jason Hayes will discuss how seven basic principles can start legislators and regulators off on the right path by ensuring private property rights are protected and the productive and creative abilities of free markets are maximized.

The Mackinac Center Policy Forum is a half day devoted to public policies that matter greatly to friends of free markets and free people. Join us in Traverse City as we provide an update on recent legislative action and discuss such timely topics as the future of Line 5, pandemic policies, and education and worker freedom.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy announces our 2021 Planning for Life Workshops around Michigan.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took unprecedented actions in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state banned certain businesses from operating and even required the entire population of Michigan to stay in their homes under penalty of law. The constitutionality of these actions was questionable, and some were struck down by the Michigan Supreme Court. Now that the pandemic emergency has ended, it is time to assess the state of Michigan’s emergency actions both in terms of their effectiveness and their propriety.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy announces our 2021 Planning for Life Workshops around Michigan.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy announces our 2021 Planning for Life Workshops around Michigan.

Assessing whether unprecedented lockdown policies were worth the costs is complicated, but two economists from Michigan universities will explain how to approach the problem and present their own research findings on the effectiveness of lockdowns.

The unreliability of renewable energy like wind and solar contributed to the problem that led to the Texas blackouts this past winter. What lessons could Michigan learn to prevent a similar problem here?

Socialists on the left and populists on the right increasingly blame the free market for a host of issues: poverty, middle-class stagnation, income inequality and more. Further regulating the market is often the proposed solution, but sometimes its government rules themselves that stifle innovation and block people from moving up the economic ladder.