We invite you to join us for an exciting Lunch & Learn – complete with lunch from Polish Village – covering unique research that Citizens Research Council will be releasing in the coming weeks. The research examines the economics of innovation and the critical role that public policy can play in incentivizing the research and development that drives the development of new technologies.

Senior research analyst Bob Schneider will present his findings on the relationship between public policy and the economics of innovation technology. He will review state-level programs designed to provide financing and business support to potential start-ups and early-stage companies bringing new technologies and product innovations to market.

The conversation promises to be filled with valuable insights, unique takes and the finest Polish food west of Warsaw.

Room is still available. Please join us and bring your friends and colleagues.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Event Details: Lunch & Learn Presentation: Economic Innovation and Public Policy

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024

Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Where: EY Detroit (formerly Ernst & Young) One Kennedy Square, 777 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226

Validated Parking: Parking for EY at One Kennedy Square is under the building at the LAZ Parking Garage at 720 S. Griswold Street. Take the parking garage elevator to the ground-floor lobby, and security will take you up to the 9th-floor conference room.

Please RSVP HERE by Tuesday, August 13

Michigan’s Innovation Ecosystem Could Use a Boost

^{(The following short form research previews the upcoming Lunch & Learn being held August 16, see above.)}

In A Nutshell: 

• Economists agree that economic innovation and technological progress are critical factors in driving economic prosperity and living standards.
• A forthcoming CRC report reviews existing empirical research that shows that public policy can be an important driver in generating more innovation
• The report also shows that Michigan’s public spending effort on innovation and entrepreneurship programs that aim to encourage innovation lags behind many neighboring states. The report outlines funding options that policymakers could use to address this gap.

As the state policymakers delegate the implementation of their grow-Michigan vision to regional efforts, evaluating and documenting progress should be a key component. Recently completed forecasts of Michigan’s demographic growth point to significant out-migration and an aging population.  These analyses can be used as a baseline to determine if regional efforts are working.

In A Nutshell: 

• While statewide analyses of Michigan’s population growth show it to be stagnant, a regional analysis points to areas of strong growth in addition to areas of decline.
• The most effective strategy to achieve the vision of a prosperous Michigan may come by empowering regional efforts. The cumulative impact of regional economic growth and net-positive migration into the various regions of the state will aid in reaching statewide population and economic goals.
• Prosperity Region Boards are the ideal organizations to steer the vision of growth and economic prosperity championed by the Growing Michigan Together Council. Collaborative regional leadership will be better informed on how to address local challenges and benefit from opportunities presented.

More Recent Research Blogs:

• Regulating Medical Debt Should Follow Recent Forgiveness Efforts
• Fixing Michigan’s Roads May Not Require Huge Funding Increases
• New K-12 Budget Generates Significant Swings in Per-Pupil Funding
• Michigan Could Focus on Expanding Access to Doulas, Improve Maternal and Child Health
• Michigan Ranks 30th in Road Funding Assessment

What happens when bond proposals fail? Districts may retry funding requests, 9&10 News (August 8)

CRC: Michigan’s Roads Have a $4B Funding Gap. Or Do They? Gongwer (August 8)

Sweeping expansion of paid sick leave law could be an even bigger deal than minimum wage, Crain’s Detroit Business (July 6)

UM’s Ono buys house in Oakland County, raising contract and tax questions, Detroit News (July 31)

The Detroit Public Library is vital to our community. Vote to keep funding it. Detroit Free Press (July 28)

Michigan’s population has stagnated. So have efforts to reverse that trend, Michigan Advance (July 27)

Whitmer signs record $83B Michigan budget. What to know, Bridge Michigan (July 24)

Citizens Research Council Honored for 2nd Consecutive Year, Michigan Business Network (July 24)

Michigan school funding bump varies by district. See how much yours will get, Bridge Michigan (July 23)

Chippewa Valley Schools Voters to Act on Non-Homestead Millage Renewal, Macomb Daily (July 23)

Detroit library could be exempt from some controversial ‘tax captures’ if millage passes, Detroit Free Press (July 22)

Seeking: Detroit Bureau Research Analyst 

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Michigan’s oldest and most trusted nonpartisan public affairs research organization, is seeking to hire an outstanding researcher to direct the following policy area:

Detroit policy issues. This position will serve as the Research Council’s expert on policy matters such as the sustainability of the city budget, tax issues, transit, governance, service delivery, and charter issues. Other research might dig into school matters such as the school district budget, the relationship between the Detroit Public Schools Community District and charter schools, and right-sizing the schools to meet the number of students served.

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum last week were recognized by the Governmental Research Association (GRA) with the Most Effective Education award in the “state government-focused” category. The award, announced at the annual GRA meeting in North Carolina, was in recognition of the two group’s Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities.

Find All #FactsMatter Podcasts on SoundCloud. Apple, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Over 50 percent of schools in the state’s largest districts with the most “at-risk” students do not receive equitable per-pupil funding. Gongwer News Administration Reporter Lily Guiney speaks with Senior Research Director Craig Thiel about his recently published, novel analysis of school-level spending patterns across the largest districts in the state, showing many schools are not being funded equitably. 

A Fact Tank Cannot Run on Fumes or a Depleted Charge

Do you want to ensure better policy decisions and better government in Michigan? A donation to support our organization will help us to continue providing the trusted, unbiased, high-quality public policy research Michigan needs. We also accept charitable bequests. Click the fuel tank to donate or learn more about planned giving.