Despite an embarrasingly high unemployment rate, a state budget crisis, and the paralysis of partisan politics in Lansing, Michigan is transitioning its policies to compete in the global knowledge economy as fast as any state in the nation, according to the recently released 2007 State New Economy Index...

Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California topped the rankings. But Michigan placed 19th, up 15 spots from the 1999 Index, making the biggest jump toward an innovation economy than any other state in America.