A Vital Midwest: the Path to Prosperity
A Vital Midwest The path to a new prosperity John Austin, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Global Midwest, CCGA & Brookings Institution Director Michigan Economic Center League of Wisconsin Municipalities – Chief Executives Workshop, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin August 19, 2021 There is a unique economic and social development story to the Upper Midwest. As our Northwest Territories they were organized with shared values, governance, political structure… The Old Northwest Territory Values • Education • Free Labor • Local Governments • Civil Rights • Religious Freedom Source: Youngstown State University, Center for Urban and Regional Studies, 2005 . Region’s resources and natural features made it target of early development. Rail and water links opened the region “Inspired tinkerers” – innovators, conversion of raw materials and natural bounty built the great industries of America’s 20th century Midwest led US 20th century economic transformation Midwest entrepreneurs created whole new industries: cars, chemicals, planes, cereals, machinery, furniture, appliances, retail sales, pharmaceuticals, and ways to meet the needs and make life better for people. Industrial cities boomed and a network of large and small factory towns spread across fields and forests of Midwest… The Great Lakes Economic Region at Night Source: S. Swan, UM CSCAR, 2003 Immigrants came from abroad. The Great Migration of blacks and whites from the South and Appalachia saw millions come North for jobs and a better life… Large employers and a workers’ movement forged America’s social
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