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: America, drugs and 'the power of the dog'
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News The escape of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman from a maximum security prison in Mexico is the stuff of movies. The kingpin of the Sinaloa Cartel escaped through a mile-long, lighted and ventilated tunnel. Now the person the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency calls “the godfather of the drug world” is on the run again. El Chapo is a very smart and powerful man. Some estimate he has a net worth of well over $1 billion, but that’s not even close to his real power: the network he commands. It’s a mega cartel[...]
Insight: Broken Windows Utah
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in Utah Business Most people are familiar with the “Broken Windows” theory of solving social problems. In a nutshell, it says to pay attention to little problems because they are a precursor to bigger problems. If a broken window is left unrepaired, then passersby will conclude nobody cares. Over time, more serious things will happen. This theory originated in the writings of George Kelling and James Q. Wilson. They wrote in a 1982 essay in The Atlantic Monthly that disorder and crime are usually inextricably linked. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made the[...]
Insight: Utah represented at International Paris Air Show
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News The International Paris Air Show is the largest and longest-running aerospace trade show in the world. For over 100 years the aviation industry has been gathering here to showcase the latest technologies in aviation and connect customers with suppliers. Charles Lindbergh landed his historic 1927 flight at this airport. This week an estimated 3,100 journalists, 285 official delegations from all over the world and over 300,000 attendees will visit the show. Gov. Gary Herbert’s trade delegation is here representing Utah. We are not alone. Other states with an economic interest in[...]
Insight: European Commission meeting reiterates that Utah is small, but has significant reach
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News I was honored to accompany Gov. Gary Herbert and his economic team on two appointments with the European Commission (EC) in Brussels. We met with three heads of cabinet in the morning and later that afternoon with Vice President Jyrki Katainen, one of the top officials in the EC for economic matters and the former prime minister of Finland. The setting for these meetings speaks to the formality, seriousness and importance of the European Commission. We sat at a large 40-seat oval table, overlooking the city of Brussels. Each participant had[...]
Insight: Utah punches above its weight
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News We are now two countries into Gov. Gary Herbert’s Western Europe Trade Mission, and a theme is emerging: Utah punches above its weight. Forgive me for the boxing metaphor, but it seems to fit and has been frequently quoted during this trade mission. It all started with comparisons between the Netherlands and Utah and continued as we visited Belgium. Both are small countries that make a big impact on the world, not unlike the state of Utah. The Netherlands is about twice the geographic size of New Jersey, but boasts the[...]
Insight: New Delta flight presents economic growth opportunities for Utah, Western Europe
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News This week I am traveling with Gov. Gary Herbert in Western Europe with a delegation of 40 business and community leaders. We are here to promote trade and tourism between Utah and five countries in Europe. The catalyst for the visit is Delta Air Lines' new nonstop flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. This direct flight provides an opportunity to capitalize on Utah’s economic ties to Western Europe. I asked Alan Ross, the head of the U.S. Commercial Service in the Netherlands, why the non-stop flight was important. He didn’t[...]