City of Detroit University Economic Analysis Partnership

The City of Detroit, unlike many large cities, lacked a systematic approach to compiling, forecasting and reporting economic data specific to activities within the city limits. With the growing availability of internal data, the City of Detroit launched the University Economic Analysis Partnership, a collaboration between Wayne State University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

This partnership works closely with city staff to integrate local data with additional public and private sources and uses econometric modeling to generate accurate, real-time economic forecasts and analyses specific to Detroit. Wayne State Economics Professor Liang Hu is proud to contribute to this effort as the principal investigator.

Through this partnership, the research team produces the Detroit Economic Outlook Report twice a year, providing an in-depth analysis of Detroit’s economic conditions and projecting key indicators such as employment and income for the next five years. Dr. Gabriel Ehrlich from the University of Michigan also presents this report at the public Revenue Estimating Conference held each February and September. Additionally, the team produces the quarterly Economic Indicators Report, offering up-to-date employment statistics for both Detroit and Michigan while examining key economic trends. Recent reports have explored topics specific to Detroit, such as the reversal of population decline, voter turnout analysis and the effects of remote work on the city's economy.

Wayne State Ph.D. candidates Hasan Alaswad and Owen Fleming are actively participating in the project alongside Hu. This partnership not only provides students with invaluable hands-on experience in economic analysis and community engagement but also strengthens Wayne State’s role in fostering community involvement, supporting data-driven policymaking to benefit the city and its residents.

For more information about these reports, refer to the City of Detroit's Revenue and Economic Reports.