Prosperity Index Summary and Trends
| Summary Table of Prosperity Index Scores and Trends* by Sustainability Sector |
| Sustainability Sector | Sector Index | Muskegon County | West MI (Muskegon/Kent/Ottawa) | Michigan | U.S. |
| 2000 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Current | 2000 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Current | 2000 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Current | 2000 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Current |
| Social Equity | Score | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Trend | declining | declining | declining | declining |
| Environmental Integrity | Score | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| Trend | rising | rising | rising | rising |
| Economic Prosperity | Score | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| Trend | declining | declining | declining | declining |
| Overall Average | Score | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
| Trend | declining | declining | declining | declining |
| *Only score changes greater than ± 0.1 are classified as rising or down. |
ility Sector Charts and Tables Summary charts and detailed tables showing the data and index scores for the indicators for each of the Sustainability Sectors are available. Click on the tabs to the upper left or the title of the sector in the table above to be directed to the page with additional data and information about each
Indicators and Scores
The key considerations in the design of the Prosperity Index were it should be:
- Simple and easy to understand.
- Easy and inexpensive to produce and publish on a regular basis.
To achieve these elements, it was decided the indicators for each sector should be limited to no more than six. In addition, to ensure the Index would be valid and useful, data for each indicator should meet the following criteria:
- Source data must be reliable, consistent and regular.
- Indicator data must be available on a national, state and county level.
- Source data must be readily accessible and simple to analyze.
The Prosperity Index is also a "fixed" index. That is, scoring is against a set of fixed standards or "rubrics," much like a school grading scale. A fixed index allows monitoring of progress and trends, and comparisons across geographic areas. Whenever possible, the levels and scales used for a rubric were based on prevailing sustainability standards or research.