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.
Insight: Utah’s Air Quality: Zeroing in on Health Impacts
By: Laura Summers 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™. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute is currently developing a roadmap of possible solutions for the Utah Legislature to consider in addressing Utah’s air quality and changing climate. This process includes evaluating existing research on how poor air quality impacts our environment, economy, and our health. As the senior health care analyst, I had an[...]
October 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 from last year.
Insight: Despite Economic Uncertainty, Wages Continue to Rise Overall
By: Juliette Tennert and Kathryn Macdonald-Poelman The recent quarterly report on personal income growth from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) gives some surprising and not so surprising tells for the nation as a whole and for Utahns. The components of total personal income include property income (dividends, interest and rent), transfer receipts (social security, Medicare, disability or unemployment insurance compensation etc.), and earnings (the sum of wages and salaries, including income for the self-employed). As the largest share of personal income, a close look at earnings within personal income can provide the clearest picture of how the everyday American[...]
Insight: Construction jobs are not keeping up with construction activity
By: Dejan Eskic The phrase “labor shortage” isn’t new but has reappeared more recently as unemployment rates hit record lows across the country. Job growth continues to thrive, with every sector surpassing its pre-recession peak in Utah. The construction sector has recovered well from its 2011 low, increasing employment by 58 percent. However, it stands out as having one of the lowest growth rates from the pre-recession peak in 2007 to 2018, recovering by less than 1 percent, as shown in Figure 1 and Table 1. […]
Insight: UN Civil Society Conference
By: Thomas Holst The United Nations (UN) selected Salt Lake City as the site last month for its 68th Civil Society Conference, which featured the theme of making “cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by 2030.” Salt Lake City was a model for the conference theme with its 100 percent renewable energy target set out in the Climate Positive 2040 plan. […]
September 2019 Economic Summary
The consensus forecast predicts moderating–but still healthy–job and wage growth, and low unemployment. Internal risks to the Utah economy include the supply of workers, increasing interest rates, housing affordability, and air quality. The nation is entering a late business cycle which may also present challenges. Demographic advantages, an appealing business climate, and increasing labor force participation will continue to be an advantage for the economy. All going well, Utah will once again be one of the top-performing economies in the nation in 2019.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, September 2019 (Tri-Fold Brochure)
In 2018, travelers and tourists spent a record $9.75 billion in Utah. Nonresident visitors spent $8.38 billion of that total, with the largest shares spent on transportation (including gasoline purchases, car rentals, transportation fares, parking), lodging, and dining. Additional nonresident visitor purchases included retail items and groceries, as well as arts, entertainment, and recreation-related activities.
Ivory-Boyer Construction Report, 2nd Quarter 2019
The total statewide value of permit authorized construction in Utah during the first half of 2019 is $4.7 billion (Table 1). The residential sector accounts for almost two-thirds of statewide construction value, totaling $2.9 billion. Activity in the commercial sector remained strong through the second quarter bringing total nonresidential construction value to $1.2 billion, a 13.5 percent increase from mid-year 2018.
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.