ANN ARBOR—Several professors from the University of Michigan have teamed up with faculty from other major research universities on a new book that focuses on the economic and fiscal challenges facing Michigan and policy options worthy of consideration.

“Michigan at the Millenium” was written and edited by faculty from U-M, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, along with colleagues from other universities, government and research organizations including Citizens Research Council and the Upjohn Institute. Together, they prepared an analysis of the state of Michigan’s economy and fiscal structure of its governments.

The current study builds upon and updates the previous volume, “Michigan’s Fiscal and Economic Structure,” edited by Harvey Brazer and published in 1982. The state has undergone substantial economic, social and political change during the last two decades, and the work reported in this volume both documents these changes and examines their implications for public policy.

The book is organized in three sections. The first group of chapters examines the demographic and economic makeup of Michigan, with chapters focusing on some specific sector of the state economy. The second group of chapters considers state and local government expenditures in Michigan, including specific areas of expenditure and public policy. The third group of chapters focuses on state and local revenues.

The editors hope an expanded understanding of some of the basic structural issues addressed in this volume will build the broad political and social consensus necessary for Michigan to adapt and respond to changing economic and social pressures and conditions.

The book’s editors are Charles Ballard, MSU professor of economics; Paul N. Courant, provost and professor of economics at U-M; Douglas Drake, associate director of the State Policy Center in the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs at Wayne State University; Ronald. Fisher, professor of economics and director of the Honors College at MSU; and Elisabeth Gerber, public policy professor and director of the U-M Center for Local, State and Urban Policy at the Ford School of Public Policy.

Project funding was provided by the three universities, allocating the special public policy funds that each received, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Michigan State University Press published the book. For additional information on obtaining copies, contact MSU Press at (517) 355-9543. 1-800-678-2120 or via the web at http://msupress.msu.edu.