Mackinac Policy Conference: Eric Lupher, president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, and Ani Turner

·16 min·1 clip

Michigan's population has grown only 1% in 20 years, ranking near the bottom nationally—what does this mean for the state's future?

This episode of Crain's Conversations features host Michael Lee interviewing Eric Lupher, president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, and Ani Turner, program director at the Altarum Institute, recorded live at the Mackinac Policy Conference. They discuss a series of reports on Michigan's economic future, starting with population trends. Lupher explains that Michigan has lagged in population growth since the 1970s, with minimal growth in recent decades and projections indicating future decline. The conversation delves into demographic shifts, noting an aging population and loss of working-age adults. Turner and Lupher emphasize the need to retain young residents and attract newcomers through domestic and international migration. They explore policy interventions, prioritizing investments in K-12 education, higher education affordability, and public health infrastructure. The dialogue also covers economic strategies, advocating for a balanced approach between traditional manufacturing and knowledge-based jobs like STEM fields. Lupher uses a frog-in-hot-water analogy to describe Michigan's gradual decline relative to other states. Marketing and storytelling are identified as key areas for improvement, with a call to shift from tourism-focused campaigns like Pure Michigan to narratives encouraging permanent settlement. The episode touches on higher education funding challenges, research commercialization, and messaging to graduates. In conclusion, Lupher shares a personal wake-up call from the data, while both guests highlight Michigan's assets, such as its temperate climate and skilled workforce, as reasons for optimism in reversing population trends.

As heard by us

A grounded look at Michigan's stagnant population growth and the economic choices tied to its future.

Michigan's near-flat population growth from 2000 to 2020 gives this Mackinac Policy Conference discussion a clear sense of pressure. Eric Lufer of the Citizens Research Council and Ani Turner of the Altaram Institute frame the issue less as a demographic footnote than as an…

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Want to understand why Michigan's slow population growth matters to the people trying to make a stronger case for staying?

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