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.
Demography is Destiny? The Implications of Declining School Enrollment for the Upper Peninsula
In his latest article, Michael Broadway takes a look at the drop in school enrollment in the Upper Peninsula and the consequences this decline might have, and discusses what we might do to address this issue.
Changes in the UP Economy: 2017-2021
Michael and John Broadway examine the recent changes to the Upper Peninsula’s GDP in the aftermath of Covid-19, and determine which sectors of the UP’s economy are growing and which are underperforming.
Covid 19 and Population Change in the Upper Peninsula 2020-2021
Michael Broadway takes a look at the effect Covid-19 has had on population in the Upper Peninsula from 2020 to 2021 using data from the Census Bureau, and discusses the conclusions that can be drawn from this data.
I (Might Be) Leaving on a Jet Plane: Flight Delays in the Upper Peninsula
Michael and John Broadway take a look at the degree to which flight delays in and out of Marquette have increased due to weather conditions, comparing data from the Bureau of Transportation. They also offer a possible solution to the travel issues the Upper Peninsula currently faces.
Michigan’s Urban-Rural Divide
Is there a clear rural-urban split in Michigan based on economic and demographic factors? Michael and John Broadway explore this question by comparing data from the UP’s 15 counties between 1989 and 2019 to a sample of metropolitan counties from below the bridge.
The Upper Peninsula’s Food Price Premium
Higher food and gas prices are part of the cost of living in a remote area, and the latest food price increases have only added to those costs. This article illustrates the added price premium that UP residents in remote areas pay for basic food items by examining the total cost of 13 commonly-purchased food items, and the impact dollar stores have had on availability of healthy food choices.
When it Rains It Pours: Climate Change in the Upper Peninsula
In their most recent research project, Michael and John Broadway take a look at the potential impact of climate change on the Upper Peninsula.
Population Decline is Not Inevitable: Evidence from the Northlands
Michael and John Broadway explore how some areas in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota have experienced population increases when most rural areas have continued to see population decreases for much of the last century, and what this means for the Upper Peninsula and economic leaders looking to reverse the out-migration in the UP.
Keweenaw National Historical Park and Calumet: What You See is What You Get
Historic preservation is a major force in shaping the American landscape. Each year millions of Americans flock to historical sites to experience places that authentically represent the past. Michael Broadway and Joslin Brown examine some of the unique challenges surrounding Keweenaw National Historical Park’s development in Calumet.
Recent Population Changes in the U.P. Amidst the Pandemic
The population dynamics of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are well documented. Its population, like most rural…
