For the first time since 1900, Michigan's death rate is higher than its birth rate. This could impact everything from the economy to political power to school districts.
"Having a smaller population is not inherently bad, but adjusting to that can be a tremendous challenge," said Reynolds Farley, lecturer at the Ford School. "It can mean a lot of things, including closing schools or combining districts in some areas, which is something that typically has strenuous opposition."