Home

Education Redesign: Opportunity Amid the Pandemic

Introducing a new video interview series that explores the skills that young people need in the 21st century, how our system should build them, and why now is the time to make a change.

It’s time to measure our state’s economic success based on rising income—for all.

43% of Michigan households can’t afford basic necessities. We can, and must, do better. Michigan Future is part of a statewide effort to make rising income for all a statewide goal.

Learn more

A case study of Minneapolis: new report suggests Michigan has a lot to learn from the Twin Cities

Much of Minnesota's economic success can be ascribed to the high performance of metro Minneapolis.

Download "Regional Collaboration Matters"

A Path to Good-paying Careers for all Michiganders: A 21st Century state policy agenda

Michigan will not have a mass middle class again until we transition to the knowledge economy that is the path to prosperity in the 21st Century.

See the report

Statement on the passing of Kathleen M. Wilbur

November 26, 2023

Michigan Future, Inc. (MFI), released the following statement from Lou Glazer on behalf of the board of directors and MFI staff following the passing of board chair, Kathleen M. Wilbur: “We’re devastated at the passing of our friend and colleague Kathy Wilbur. Her decades of being an advocate for higher education and making Michigan a better place for all have…

Michigan’s Prosperity Will Be Generation Z Driven

November 16, 2023

Adapted from Michigan Future, Inc. President Lou Glazer's Growing Michigan Together Council presentation on November 2, 2023. Michigan was a 20th Century high-prosperity state. Now we are a 21st Century low-prosperity state. Ranking 39th in per capita income, 13 percent below the national average in 2022. This is the lowest Michigan has been compared to the nation ever. This is…

Michigan’s Path to Prosperity

November 3, 2023

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the September/October 2023 issue of the Michigan Planner. The Michigan Planner magazine is delivered six times per year to members of the Michigan Association of Planning, the Michigan Chapter of the American Planning Association. The Michigan Association of Planning exists to promote quality community planning through education, information and advocacy, statewide. More information available…

We’ve been measuring the wrong things – and workers are fed up

October 26, 2023

“Workers Strike” is becoming an increasingly common headline as the casino workers in Detroit join the UAW, health care workers and more across our state. How can this be when unemployment is again near record lows, workforce participation is up, and inflation is coming down? These glowing measures, that are touted by politicians, businesses, and economists, are clear indications of…

Mapping and addressing the “benefit cliff” in Michigan

October 24, 2023

This post summarizes a short report we wrote on the benefit cliff in Michigan, which can be found here: Mapping and Addressing Benefit Cliffs in Michigan In early 2023, Senator Kristen McDonald-Rivet established a working group to explore the so-called “benefit cliff,” and its impact on Michigan families. Most public benefits (SNAP benefits, housing assistance, cash assistance) are “means tested,”…