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
Industry Snapshot: Utah’s Tech Industry
The tech industry develops digital platforms that enable the ubiquitous information economy. Tech companies provide software for many applications. They manufacture and distribute computers and devices used by individuals and organizations. The industry also encompasses e-commerce and IT support. This document and the companion research brief present preliminary results of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s research program for 2018 and 2019 on Utah’s [...]
Summary Economic Impacts of Utah’s Tech Industry
The Utah State Legislature appropriated fiscal year 2019 funding to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute for a first-of-itskind economic study of Utah’s innovation economy. The Gardner Policy Institute convened its Tech Industry Advisory Council, with participation from three Utah trade associations—Silicon Slopes, Utah Technology Council (UTC), and Women Tech Council (WTC)—as well as the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and Economic [...]
Measuring Economic Diversity: The Hachman Index, 2017
The Hachman Index is a measure of economic diversity. Using indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) or employment, the index measures the mix of industries present in a particular region relative to a (well-diversified) reference region. Hachman Index scores are normalized from 0 to 100.
January 2019 Economic Summary
The Utah economy exceeded expectations in 2018, adding a total of 48,500 new jobs over the year. An annual employment growth rate of 3.3% is on par with the state’s long-term average and is among the strongest in the nation. A tightening labor market (3.1 percent unemployment) applied upward pressure on personal income. Annual income per capita increased to $45,174, a 3.9 percent increase [...]
