The University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, housed in the David Eccles School of Business, is Utah’s premier economic and public policy research institute. We develop and share economic, demographic, public finance, and public policy research that sheds light and helps state leaders make informed decisions. We serve as a vital gathering place for policy leadership that benefits all Utahns.
The University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, housed in the David Eccles School of Business, is Utah’s premier economic and public policy research institute. We develop and share economic, demographic, public finance, and public policy research that sheds light and helps state leaders make informed decisions. We serve as a vital gathering place for policy leadership that benefits all Utahns.
Recent Research
How Income Measures Shape Policy
No standard definition for income exists, making it essential to use the appropriate definition for a particular application when conducting policy analysis.
Household Income in Utah
After adjusting for localized cost-of-living differences between states, Utah’s median household income of over $98,000 ranks highest in the country.
Utah’s Regional Universities: Definition, Benefits, and Reach
Regional universities offer a wide range of open admissions programs, including academic, career, and technical education, undergraduate associate and baccalaureate programs, and select graduate programs.
March 2025 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment fell 8.0% in March, from 88.1 in February to 81.1, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan measured an even larger decline (11.9%) in sentiment among Americans as a whole.
Utah’s Declining Fertility Rate, 2023
U.S. and Utah fertility rates continued a long-term decline in 2023. The U.S. total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.621 in 2023, a 2.1% decline from 1.656 in 2022.
