Michael Broadway
Michael Broadway is Professor of Geography and the former Dean of Arts & Sciences at Northern Michigan University. His research expertise focuses on the meatpacking industry’s community impacts. In 2006 he was a visiting Fulbright Research Chair in the Department of Rural Economy at the University of Alberta. He is a co-author with Donald Stull of Slaughterhouse Blues: The Meat and Poultry Industry in North America. (2nd edition 2011: Cengage). More recently he has published on a variety of food and drink related topics including food tourism, slow food and coffeehouses.
Births, Deaths and Migrants: The U.P.’s Changing Population 2020-2024
Rural Insights contributor Michael Broadway examines newly available data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and IRS Migration data to provide an update on population changes in the UP between 2020-2024.
Climate Change and Maple Syrup Production in the Upper Peninsula
Climate change is reshaping Michigan’s maple syrup industry, shifting production northward as warmer winters shorten the tapping season and reduce sap sugar content. Discover how the Upper Peninsula is emerging as a key region for syrup producers adapting to these changing conditions.
Growing Christmas Trees in the Upper Peninsula
In his latest article, Michael Broadway examines recent trends in Christmas tree production in the Upper Peninsula, starting with the Christmas tree’s adoption in the United States and the factors involved in developing a successful tree farm operation.
Left Behind Places: The Example of the Upper Peninsula
Michael Broadway explores the concept of “left-behind places,” focusing on economic disparities in the U.S., particularly Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Taxing Tourists: A Global and Local Perspective
In his latest article for Rural Insights, Michael Broadway highlights how tourism drives economic benefits in the U.P. but also creates challenges like congestion, environmental strain, and housing shortages, prompting debate over increasing tourist taxes to balance community and business interests.
The U.P.’s Post-Covid Economic Performance: The Importance of Recreation and Tourism
In his latest article, Michael Broadway compares recent changes in population, employment and median household income in recreation- and government-dependent counties in the Upper Peninsula post-Covid.
The Upper Peninsula’s Tourist Economy
In his latest research piece, Michael Broadway examines trends in tourism in the Upper Peninsula and its effects on our economy.
The UP’s Farming Revival Reconsidered
Michael Broadway provides an update of the Upper Peninsula’s farm economy using the latest Agricultural Census data from 2022, beginning with an overview of the environmental and economic factors affecting farming in the region.
The Challenge of Job Creation in the Upper Peninsula
In his latest article, Michael Broadway analyzes job growth among Michigan’s counties between 2006 and 2023, and compares the Upper Peninsula’s job creation performance with other areas in the state.
Shrinking Population: Why It Matters
Michael Broadway explores the implications of population decline in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, using Cairo, Illinois as a case study to highlight the economic and social challenges faced by communities with shrinking populations–particularly the impact on local businesses, schools, housing values, and government pensions.
