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Structural Tax Reform

Detroit is on the rise, but its exceptionally high property tax rates risk hindering its continued economic growth. Detroit needs a comprehensive economic growth strategy to help legacy residents, neighborhoods, and small businesses thrive while attracting new residents, businesses, and investments. Both are possible. Detroit’s property taxes are a key barrier to broad economic growth. […]

2025 Wrapped: Big work, real impact

As we look ahead to the new year, it’s important to reflect on the many hours and outcomes that came together to create a successful 2025.

Michigan Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint Legislative Report

Despite decades of effort from generations of families, educators, and policymakers, high-quality education largely is an unrealized promise for the hundreds of thousands of Michigan’s students with disabilities. Michigan’s special education system is underfunded, inequitable, and does not meet student needs. Without enduring reform, students with disabilities will continue to fall behind in academic progress, […]

Eviction Calculator Preview

The True Cost of Eviction Calculator Think before you evict. The true cost of eviction goes far beyond missed rent. Legal fees, unit turnover, vacancy loss, and time spent re-leasing add up quickly—and can often cost more than offering support, mediation, or payment plans. Monthly Rent ($): i The regular rent amount for the unit. […]

Michigan Retailers Association Economic Impact of Buying Nearby

For the past 85 years, the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has been the voice of Michigan’s retail industry. MRA currently represents more than 15,000 brick-and-mortar and online stores among its 5,000 business members. If a portion of Michigan’s out-of-state remote sales were shifted to the state’s brick-and-mortar businesses, the impact of local retail stores on […]

5 questions about data science with Lauren Branneman

Lauren Branneman

We sat down with Lauren Branneman, director of data science, to talk about how data informs our research projects, the tools we use to uncover insights and what projects we’re working on that get our data team out of bed in the morning.

Mackinac Bridge Authority Economic Contribution Study

This research examines the economic impact of the Mackinac Bridge by looking at two spending streams: yearly nonlocal tourism and Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) operations. It includes estimates of visitor and MBA spending in Mackinac, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties as well as statewide. The analysis also examines how the 2024 Mackinac Bridge Walk impacted the […]