The Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison commissioned Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum* to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of Michigan’s population, economic and environmental conditions to help answer a fundamental question: In what direction is Michigan heading?
Citizens Research Council was thrilled to work with Bridge Michigan as guest hosts for this special series of podcasts covering this five-part research series, entitled “Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities.”
The analysis found that Michigan has been losing ground over the past five decades. It has fallen behind other states in population growth, jobs, earnings, educational achievement, health, and the quality of public services at the state and local levels. Too few interstate immigrants target Michigan as a destination, international immigration has fallen, and too many young Michigan residents are leaving.
Research Council analysts sat down with Bridge Michigan journalists Jonathan Oosting and Lauren Gibbons to discuss each of the five papers:
Population and Demographic Trends
Economy, Workforce, and Talent
Health Trends
Infrastructure, Environment, and Preparedness for Climate Change
Public Sector
These podcasts dig into how Michigan now finds itself in the bottom third of national rankings, including 34th in household income, 36th in K-12 educational outcomes, 39th in health outcomes, 45th in electric service reliability, and 47th in road condition.
Absent policy changes and investments, Michigan’s current path will lead to a shrinking population and continuing declines in the state’s competitiveness and quality of life.
Despite the sobering statistics, there research also shows there is a real opportunity to alter this path with policies that retain young residents and attract domestic and international immigrants to Michigan.
Please enjoy our special podcast series and let us know what you think.
