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.
Retail Sales and the Pandemic: A Most Remarkable Year
This research brief examines 2020 retail trade sales in the context of long-term historical trends in sales activity. A seemingly straightforward comparative analysis of yearly sales, however, was complicated by data comparability issues. Hence, care was taken to ensure an “apples to apples” approach, which required some discussion of evolving tax reporting and remittance requirements
Insight: Utah’s Challenge
By: Phil Dean Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Jun 25, 2021 – Utah’s population and economy continue growing. This growth creates tremendous opportunities for Utahns. Growth also creates challenges. Some growth challenges stem from the interactions of topographical and other physical constraints with legacy transportation, land, air, and water use patterns. Other challenges arise because outdated systems poorly align with the modern economy.[...]
Insight: Federal Economic Stimulus Efforts
By: Phil Dean Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Apr 30, 2021 – Since the Great Depression nearly a century ago, the U.S. Congress and President have used fiscal policy (taxing and spending powers) and the Federal Reserve has used monetary policy (influencing interest rates through control of the money supply) in an attempt to counteract economic declines. Over the past year, both fiscal[...]
March Newsmaker Breakfast: Federal Stimulus and its Impact on Utah
Hear from local economists and experts on the impact of federal stimulus spending on Utah.
Guest Insight: Utah Needs a Federal Child Allowance
By: Louise Knauer and Susan Olson Note: The opinions expressed represent the views of the Utah Citizens’ Counsel and its Social Support Systems Committee. The views do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Feb 24, 2021 – The Utah Citizens’ Counsel (UCC) is an independent, non-partisan group of senior community advocates dedicated to improving Utah public policy on a range of issues. We issued our latest report in November 2020. We sometimes think of ourselves as the[...]
Informed Decisions 2020 Election Brief
In this INFORMED DECISIONS™ election brief, we share insights in three areas of critical concern to Utahns: education funding, housing affordability, and the impact of COVID-19 on Utah’s economy. We will also host forums and candidate discussions as a companion to this research.
Insight: Despite Public Health Concerns, Utah’s Fiscal House is in Order
By: Juliette Tennert Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Mar 12, 2020 – Earlier this year, we started to hear about a mysterious virus popping up in China. At that time, I never would have imagined that Governor Herbert would be declaring a state of emergency, and the University of Utah, where I work and teach, would be moving classes online for more than[...]
Insight: State Budget Report Cards Out, Utah a Model Student
By: Juliette Tennert Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Mar 3, 2020 – The Volcker Alliance gave Utah high marks in state budget practices in its recently released Truth and Integrity in State Budgeting: The Balancing Act report. […]
Utah System of Higher Education: State Aid Project
USHE commissioned the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute to assess system-wide tuition and state aid policies. This report focuses on three main topics: tuition and state aid policies, the economic impacts of nonresident students, and measuring college affordability. This comprehensive report presents a baseline analysis for further policy discussion surrounding state aid in Utah.
State Budget Stress Testing: How Utah Budget-makers are Shifting the Focus from a Balanced Budget to Fiscal Sustainability
State budget stress tests help policymakers to plan for and create appropriate, measured responses to economic volatility. Utah is the first state to implement comprehensive budget stress testing, evaluating the sufficiency of reserves and other budget contingencies to cover recession-spurred revenue shortfalls and countercyclical cost hikes.