Reforming capitalism through employer mandates

In our state policy agenda we advocate for augmenting wages and benefits through some combination of employer mandates and/or a strengthened safety net. And note that the employer mandate recommendations is the area where we have the most disagreement amongst the Michigan Future board and staff. What is clear to us is that Michigan cannot […]

Technology destroying good-paying jobs and careers

Two highly recommended recent New York Times articles on how technology is destroying good-paying jobs and careers. The first, written by Kevin Roose, is entitled The hidden agenda of the Davos elites. The second, written by Eduardo Porter, is entitled Tech is splitting the U.S. workforce in two. The Rose column will scare the hell […]

A call to reform capitalism from a capitalist

Ray Dalio’s call to reform capitalism is high recommended. Dalio is the founder, co-Chief Investment Officer and co-Chairman of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. In his essay entitled Why and how capitalism needs to be reformed, Dalio writes: Over these many years I have also seen capitalism evolve in a way that it […]

The community college completion challenge

The recently released MDRC evaluation of the Detroit Promise underscores the community college completion challenge. Despite adding financial incentives and intensive supports to free tuition, only 29 (five percent) of 390 students who started in the program earned at least 48 credits by the end of their second year. Which was better than the three […]