Public Policy
The Gardner Institute provides data-driven, context-specific insights about public policy in Utah. We prepare in-depth quantitative and qualitative studies on key Utah issues in partnership with private-sector stakeholders and state and local government. Our research provides vital information decision-makers and the public use to help Utah prosper.
Diversity in Utah: Race, Ethnicity, and Sex Data Book (Presentation Slides)
Utah ranks as the 34th most racially and ethnically diverse state in the nation, with 22% of the state identifying as other than non-Hispanic White. This places Utah’s racial/ethnic diversity just below Pennsylvania and above several larger states like Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Utah’s minority share of the population is expected to increase to one in three Utahns by 2060.
Market Assessment: Air Quality / Changing Climate Solutions Laboratory
The redevelopment of the Utah State Prison property in Draper, Utah, presents a significant opportunity for a generational investment in Utah’s economic future. Of the 600 acres at the prison site, a portion is being considered for a university-led innovation district that solves difficult challenges and creates high quality jobs in Utah. One of these challenges, and a platform for future innovation, is air quality and a changing climate
April Newsmaker Breakfast: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Data
A preview of of race, ethnicity, and gender indicators to help support greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in Utah.
Fact Sheet: Refugees in Utah
A refugee is someone who, “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country” (8 U.S. Code § 1101).
COVID-19 Impacts by Gender
The COVID-19 public health recession created an economic shock that reverberated across industries, occupations, and genders. While the economic accounting is incomplete, initial data yield compelling insights about the pandemic's impact on men and women in both the Utah and U.S. economies.
An Economic Analysis of Zion National Park Scenarios, 2021
Proposed developments at Zion National Park’s east entrance include the construction of a new visitor center, lodging, and hiking/biking trails along with the deployment of an electric shuttle fleet. This study analyzes the economic impacts of east park improvements on Kane and Washington counties over 10 years by comparing this high-investment scenario with a projected baseline scenario.
Ivory-Boyer Construction Report, Fourth Quarter 2020
The year 2020 was record-breaking for construction in the state of Utah. Total permitted construction value reached $11.0 billion for the year, a number that doesn’t reflect the economic challenges faced by the rest of the economy. The record-breaking year was led by a surge in residential construction activity. Residential construction value reached $6.7 billion in 2020, surpassing the previous 2006 record. Nonresidential construction value declined 3.4% from 2019 to $2.5 billion. Addition, alteration, and repair permitted values increased 31.2% from 2019 to $1.9 billion, also a record
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.
Ivory-Boyer Construction Report, Third Quarter 2020
Construction activity continued its momentum into the third quarter. Total permitted construction reached $8.01 billion for the period of January through September, a record and an increase of 9.4% from the same time period last year (Table 1). Residential construction values also set a record, increasing 10.7% from 2019 to $4.9 billion. Nonresidential construction overcame its slump in the first half of the year.
The Impact of High-Density Apartments on Surrounding Single-Family Home Values in Suburban Salt Lake County
New, dense housing continues to be a point of conflict in growing communities as concerns over negative impacts to home values dominate the discussion. This study quantifies how new apartment construction has impacted single-family home price acceleration over the last decade.
