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.
Utah Outdoor Partners Survey of Businesses, 2018
Utah is currently experiencing a period of dynamic economic growth. Executives from 50 of the fastest growing companies in Utah were interviewed to determine the influence Utah's outdoor recreational opportunities have on location decisions, employee recruitment and retention, and the overall desirability of doing business in the state.
Insight: Utah’s growth demands cooperation, not sabotage
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News The poet E. E. Cummings wrote, “More, and more, and still more … are we all morticians?” This quote reminds me of the seemingly limitless growth occurring in Utah right now. We have more people, more jobs and more opportunity. We also have more congestion, more pollution and more need for water. For growth to be good, it must be guided by great leaders who represent our shared values. We must turn the “more of anything” into “more of the right thing.” Quality growth should be our north star. […]
Gardner Industry Trends Model
The Gardner Industry Trends Model (GITM) produces statewide long-term employment projections by major industry. These employment projections serve as drivers for the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s (GPI) long-term demographic projections.
Insight: New Energies Fueled by Technology
By: Thomas Holst Salt Lake City was recently named as a “Solar Star” based on the number of megawatts of solar energy used per capita compared to 70 other U.S. cities. This honor signals a willingness amongst Salt Lake City homeowners to make a front-end investment, often in the tens of thousands of dollars, in order to gain both a better environment and achieve homeowner energy independence. […]
June 2018 Economic Summary
The Utah economy remains healthy. Every major industrial sector expanded in 2017, contributing a total of 43,500 new jobs over the year. An annual employment growth rate of 3.1% is on par with the state’s long-term average and is among the strongest in the nation. In 2017, Utah’s construction sector posted the highest job growth with 5.4%.
Insight: Utah’s GDP Growth: a story of consistent recovery
By: John Downen The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis maintains statistics on the composition and performance of the nation’s and the states’ economies. The BEA recently released 2017 numbers for gross domestic product (GDP) by state. GDP is the most common measure of an area’s economic output and measures the value of goods and services produced in a region minus the cost of the goods and services used in the production process. Looking at Utah’s growth both recently and since the end of the Great Recession gives us a good idea of the rise of some industries and the decline[...]
Insight: Time for the northern Utah economy to come alive
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News The Utah economy continues to impress. Utah job growth registers an impressive 3.5 percent, the fastest job growth in the country and nearly twice the national average of 1.6 percent. Utah’s job growth, combined with low unemployment, rising wages and net in-migration, makes for the hottest economy in the nation right now. […]
Ivory-Boyer First Quarter Report 2018
The value of all permit authorized construction in Utah during the first quarter of 2018 was $2 billion. This is a 7.5 percent increase from first quarter 2017. This rise was led by an increase in residential construction which represented 64 percent of total construction value this quarter. Overall, construction values rose after two consecutive quarterly declines in 2017.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, 2018
Utah’s diverse travel and tourism industry generates jobs and income for Utah residents and produces tax revenue for state and local governments. Domestic and international visitors are drawn to Utah’s natural, cultural, and historical assets. Utah has 14 ski resorts, 10 of which are less than an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport, as well as five national parks, 11 national monuments, two national recreation areas, one national historic site, and 43 state parks. Throughout the year, Utah hosts several arts events, such as the Moab Music Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Tuacahn Theater Series, Utah Arts Festival, Utah Festival[...]
May 2018 Economic Summary
The Utah economy remains healthy. Every major industrial sector expanded in 2017, contributing a total of 43,500 new jobs over the year. An annual employment growth rate of 3.1% is on par with the state’s long-term average and is among the strongest in the nation. In 2017, Utah’s construction sector posted the highest job growth with 5.4%.