Ohio outperforming Michigan economically, says Michigan think tank

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan-based non-profit think tank, released a report suggesting that Ohio is outperforming Michigan economically. The center noted that Ohio has recently been ranked by CNBC as the top state in the nation for doing business.

Key economic disparities cited include unemployment rates and per capita personal income. As of June 2026, Michigan's unemployment rate was reported at 5.0 percent compared to Ohio's 3.6 percent. Additionally, since 2007, Michigan’s average per capita personal income has been $796.25 lower than Ohio’s.

The report attributes Ohio's progress to adjustments in taxes and regulations, including a 2023 legislative move by Governor Mike DeWine to cut nearly a third of the state’s regulatory code. In contrast, the Mackinac Center suggests Michigan has struggled with overregulation and significant business subsidies, noting that between 2000 and 2025, Michigan provided at least nine mega-deal subsidies exceeding $1 billion each.