They've been called a burden or a drain on the economy, but according to a recent report, older Michiganders have much more economic clout than many believe. The AARP's Longevity Economy Report shows that households headed by those age 50 and older contribute to the state's economy to the tune $203 billion per year, or 47 percent of the state's GDP. Mark Hornbeck, with AARP Michigan says that's especially noteworth, since that group only makes up 36 percent of the state's population. The report, prepared for the AARP by Oxford Economics, also found that older Michiganders are twice as likely to start businesses than those age 25 to 49, and represent one-third of the state's workforce.
