Public Finance
The Gardner Institute employs a team of economists who specialize in public finance. We also benefit from a Public Finance Council that guides our research agenda and supports the development of a public finance practice area. Our research focus areas include, but are not limited to: tax policy, revenue forecasting, fiscal impacts, budget stress-testing, budget transparency, and public finance best practices.
Featured Research
Tax System Design: Administration and Compliance
Tax burdens extend beyond the dollar amount of tax paid and the associated drag on economic activity (“deadweight loss”). These additional burdens include compliance costs for households and businesses and administrative costs for governments. Different taxes incur different compliance and administrative costs.
Tax System Design: Efficiency
An economically efficient and neutral tax system minimizes adverse effects on household and business decisions by imposing low tax rates across a broad tax base.
Tax System Design: Revenue Sufficiency
An ideal tax system consistently generates sufficient revenue to plan for and meet the core public service needs of citizens. Taxes fundamentally exist to fund core services demanded by citizens at levels selected by policymakers
Tax System Design: Utah’s Tax Portfolio Highlights Tradeoffs Among Different Tax Choices
Taxes generate revenue to pay for public services demanded by citizens. These services, such as transportation, public safety, corrections, courts, health care, water, air quality, parks, and education provide economic and societal benefits.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Federal Public Education Funding in Utah
Utah’s FY 2026 state budget includes about $600 million in federal funds for public education, which makes up about 7% of the state’s total public education budget.
Marriage Penalties in Utah
Though relatively few and limited in scope, marriage penalties exist in both Utah's tax structure (primarily through income tax credits) and benefit programs.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Balance of Payments Between Utah and the Federal Government
Utah consistently places in the bottom quarter of states in per capita federal balance of payments (taxes paid less funds received by Utahns) in various measures over time and using different methodologies.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Taxation
Utah's leaders face challenging decisions when weighing tax reform options. They must keep laser focused on Utah’s changing economy and aging population.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Medicaid
Medicaid and CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program) fund health care services for about 353,000 Utahns with low income as of February 2025.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Federal Funds in Utah’s State Budget
In FY 2024, federal funds comprised 27% of the state’s spending, totaling just over $7 billion of the $26 billion total.
