Contact:AnnMarie Schneider, IPPSR, (517) 355-6672

4/21/2004

Michigan's current economic health will be discussed during a luncheon forum sponsored by Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research on Thursday, April 22.

The forum is open to the public and will be held from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Lansing Community College's Technology and Learning Center on the corner of Shiawassee Street and Capitol Avenue.

The forum, “Taking Notes on the Economy: Outlook for Michigan,” will report on how the state is weathering the hard economic times shared across the nation. Researchers, practitioners and government officials comprise a panel that will cover efforts to maintain and attract jobs, current consumer confidence levels, and how Michigan compares to other states.

Panelists include:

• Charles Ballard, MSU economics professor;
  
• Mitchell Bean, Michigan House Fiscal Agency director;
  
• John Czarnecki, vice president for community services, Michigan Economic Development Corporation; and
  
• David Sowerby, vice president, portfolio manager/chief market analyst, Loomis Sayles Equity Management

Additional information is available at www.ippsr.msu.edu or by calling (517) 355-6672. A $15 registration fee includes lunch and materials.