The Gardner Policy Institute provides data-driven, context-specific insights about Utah’s economy. We prepare in-depth studies on key Utah issues in partnership with stakeholders in the private sector and state and local government. The institute employs a diverse group of economists and analysts with specialties that include healthcare, energy and natural resources, tourism, and real estate and construction. Our research provides vital information decision makers and the public use to help Utah prosper.
Housing, Construction, & Real Estate
Tourism, Recreation, and Restaurant Taxes in Utah
Tourism in Utah generates significant tourism-specific and other taxes, but regional differences in local revenues and tourism impacts can pose challenges.
October 2024 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment increased by 3.6% in October 2024 (from 77.9 in September to 80.7 in October), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment.
Fact Sheet: 2020 Census Urban Areas in Utah
Data from the 2020 census showed that nearly 9 out of 10 Utahns lived in Census Bureau Urban Areas, regions that account for around 1% of the land area in the state.
Fiscal Contrast: An Analysis of State and Federal Fiscal Processes
States and the federal government both employ sovereign fiscal powers to tax, spend, and borrow, although their fiscal approaches differ starkly.
Salt Lake County’s Life Sciences and Health Care Innovation Industry
Life sciences and health care innovation plays a vital role in Salt Lake County’s economy, supporting employment, generating earnings, and boosting GDP.
Exploring Utah’s Asian Groups: A Detailed Analysis
More than 125,000 Utahns identify as Asian, either alone or in combination with other races. These residents compose the state’s 3rd largest racial and ethnic group, accounting for more than 3.8% of the state’s population.