By Robert Farago
January 12, 2009
“Here in Michigan we have a problem: the automobile industry. Thanks to foreign competition and the doubtful management of the Big Three, the state’s economy is in serious trouble. Should we just sell the state to the Chinese? There is a history of this in Michigan – we once traded the city of Toledo to Ohio in exchange for the upper peninsula. So perhaps it would be a good idea. But what would be a good price?
Mrs J, Michigan”
“Make sure you don’t sell yourselves cheap. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Michigan’s GDP was $382bn in 2007. This is an attempt to measure the value added to all goods and services in Michigan, which includes anything from haircuts to assembling a car – but not, for instance, any components imported from out of state…
“So how much would it cost to buy $382bn of productive power? No corporation adds nearly as much value; the economist Paul de Grauwe reckoned that in 2000, value added was $67bn for Wal-Mart and $53bn for Exxon, the two largest companies. Their market value at the time was about five times their value added.
“If the same ratio applies, buying Michigan would cost the Chinese almost $2 trillion –roughly what China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange has to spend…
“Still, don’t hold out too long: even before the credit crunch hit, Michigan’s GDP per head was falling in real terms. This may be the right time to sell.”
FT »
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POWERED
January 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Can we get Singapore for Michigan in a swap deal? It’s just a city, in exchange for a whole state, but it’s the future…. and Michigan is the past.
(Lokki ducks and covers!)
January 12th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I say just split and become a province of Canada. It really wouldn’t make much difference for anyone north of Mt. Pleasant and Canadian health and unemployment benefits are much more generous.
Added bonus: Potential for the UofM OSU game to spark international incidents!!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Singapore is a city-state.
Michigan gave up it’s claim to Toledo, it was never actually a part of the state.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Leave the UP and Northern Michigan out of it. The rest of Michigan should be lanced, drained, and disinfected.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Why would you want to trade Singapore for Michigan? Singapore is buried under at least 70 feet of sand? Besides, Singapore is already in Michigan.
(Pretty much only those familiar with the west side of the Lower Peninsula will have any idea what I’m rambling about.)
January 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Having lived in Toledo for 20-odd years, I’d have to say Michigan got the better end of that deal. ;-)
January 12th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
You could probably get WI to take the UP pretty easily.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Poor Chinese, can’t we give them some island off the coast for 100 years instead (Hong Kong style)?