Recent Research
Click on the links below to view the most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Federal Deficit and Debt
The federal government spends 39% more annually than its revenue collections, resulting in a deficit ($1.9 trillion in FY 2024).
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Federal Employment in Utah
Nearly 57,000 federal employees work in Utah, consisting of non-defense civilian employees (nearly 22,000), defense civilian employees (about 19,000), and military personnel (roughly 16,000).
The Benefits of Higher Education to Utah
Education and training help Utahns earn more income, secure more stable employment, achieve greater upward mobility, participate less in public assistance programs, and garner other positive individual and societal benefits.
January 2025 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment was unchanged at 91.3 in January, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment.
State and County Population Estimates for Utah: 2024
July 1, 2024 estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee indicate a total Utah population of 3,506,838, adding 50,392 residents to the state since July 1, 2023.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, 2025 (Tri-fold Brochure)
Visitors spent a record $12.71 billion in Utah’s economy in 2023, generating 159,800 total jobs and a record $2.35 billion in state and local tax revenue. Utah ski resort visitation was the second highest on record during the 2023-2024 season (6.7 million skier days).
Medicaid Funding 101
Medicaid funding and CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program) fund health care services for about 340,000 low-income Utahns (about 11% of Utah’s population). As a jointly funded state/federal program, funding shares vary by state.
Measuring Economic Diversity/Hachman Index
Utah ranks among the top 10 most economically diverse states in the U.S., maintaining its 2022 position as having the 7th highest Hachman Index score in 2023.
The Economic Impacts of Utah’s Fintech Industry
Many factors, including strong economic multipliers, position Utah's fintech industry to grow and play a larger role in the state's economy.
