Economic Research

Strengthening Michigan Businesses through Investments in Early Care and Education: How Investments in Early Learning Increase Sales from Local Businesses, Create Jobs and Grow the Economy
Author: America's Edge
Early care and education programs generate $1.2 billion in economic activity for Michigan, employ over 27,000 workers and improve future workforce, according to a new report from America's Edge, a national group of business leaders who work to strengthen businesses and the economy through proven investments in children.
Report

The State of America's Children 2011
Author: Children's Defense Fund
Overview: CDF’s new report The State of America's Children 2011 finds children have fallen further behind in many of the leading indicators over the past year as the country slowly climbs out of the recession. This is a comprehensive compilation and analysis of the most recent and reliable national and state-by-state data on population, poverty, family structure, family income, health, nutrition, early childhood development, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and gun violence.
Full Study

The Wilder Report, 2009
Author: Wilder Research
Overview: State spending to educate Michigan children before they even get to kindergarten has saved taxpayers $1.15 billion annually, based on an economic-impact study released today by St. Paul-based Wilder Research.The study is the first of its kind in Michigan to document the economic benefits of adequately preparing low-income children over such a broad array of sectors, including K-12 education, government spending and tax revenues, public safety and health, and the economy.
Executive Summary
Full Study