According to the Brookings Institution, if it stood alone as a country, the Great Lakes economy would be one of the largest economic units on Earth (with a $4.5-trillion gross regional product).
Conform Brookings Institution, regiunea Marilor Lacuri considerată ca o țară aparte, ar avea una dintre cele mai mari economii din lume (cu un produs regiona brut de 4,5-trilioane $).