The Importance of Four-Year Degrees
A recent comment from Jeffery questioned the value of four-year degrees for all. This is a frequent question I get in my presentations. So I thought it worth doing a blog, rather than just responding to the comment. Since we are interested in how to rebuild a high prosperity Michigan, our focus is on what […]
Public Investments, Part III
So if the prestigious Milliken/Blanchard panel laid out a framework for state policy makers on tax and spending policies that will help grow the Michigan economy, why have their recommendations been ignored? I think there are three main reasons: 1. As we have learned the last several years both raising taxes and cutting spending are […]
Public Investments, Part II
So if public investments are the key to better position Michigan to prosper in a knowledge-based economy what should policy makers do? The framework for action was spelled out by the Milliken/Blanchard panel in 2007. A group of bi partisan heavyweights convened by Governor Granholm. They wrote a terrific report which the Governor and the […]
Public Investments are the Priority
Just back from a week in beautiful – but rainy – northern Michigan. As I was leaving I circulated a terrific column by Rick Haglund (read it here). It once again provides evidence that lower taxes is not a path to economic success. Quite surprising it reports that the Tax Foundation – a conservative think […]
A Top Ten That Matters
Seems like every week there is another top ten list that folks claim Michigan should be on. Many are tax rankings. Some measure how “business friendly” states or regions are. Only problem with these lists is being on the top ten almost never means that you have a prosperous economy. When it comes to inputs […]
Books To Read III
When it comes to what we call preparing talent – teaching and learning – the books that best help me understand the big picture are: Disrupting Class by Clayton Christensen, Michael Horn and Curtis Johnson. For those interested in how education should look in the future this is the best book I have read. It […]
The Limits of State Policy
Hal Wolman, formerly of Wayne State, now at George Washington, was in town this week. He is working on a national project to try to figure out what characterizes resilient regions – those that recover from big economic shocks. I participated in a meeting he convened of a small group of “old hands” on the […]
No Time to Backtrack on High School Standards
Amber Arellano’s Detroit News editorial on high school standards is highly recommended. (Get it here.) As she argues reducing the standards, particularly in math, – as many educators are pushing for – would be a big mistake. The new graduation standards are one of the few accomplishments of Lansing policy makers in the last decade […]
Books to Read II
More book recommendations. As you know we have concluded that retaining and attracting talent – particularly young college graduates – is one of the keys to growing the Michigan economy. Two books cover the topic best: Who’s Your City by Richard Florida. We believe that human capitol is now the driver of the economy. Florida […]
Higher Education Is A Priority
Lansing State Journal – Michigan Must Ready Itself for Jobs Recently the Lansing State Journal ran a terrific editorial about the future of the mid Michigan economy. You can find it as an attachment below. Its message is applicable to the entire state. Its quite simple: job growth and particularly good-paying jobs from today forward […]