Regional Cooperation

Research

Research is a valuable and often overlooked resource for cities. Southeast Michigan's many top-notch universities are producing research that offers in-depth analyses and even solutions to municipal challenges, yet cities are often unaware of this critical information. At the same time, these universities have the capabilities and funding to perform critical problem analysis that cities often cannot do because they are strapped for financial resources. These cities could be informing research initiatives to make them more applicable to their specific challenges.

With our partner organizations, we are working to develop a way to drive university research agendas toward the issues most pertinent to mature suburbs. Visit Reports to read studies from local universities and other institutions.

Featured Reports:

Governor's Task Force on Local Government Services and Fiscal Stability Final Report, (PDF-394K) May 2006
A set of recommendations to resolve the finance crisis facing municipalities across Michigan.

Fiscal Distress Indicators: An Assessment of Current Michigan Law and Development of a New "Early-Warning" Scale for Michigan Localities (PDF-656K)
Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, 2002, Robert Kleine, Philip Kloha, Carol S. Weissert
An evaluation of the indicators of fiscal distress in Michigan law and possible changes that could improve the current system.