Recent Research
Recently Published
The most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Utah’s Pandemic Learning Loss
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of life, and K-12 education was no exception. In spring 2020, nearly all schools nationwide shifted to remote learning and many schools continued with full closures or hybrid schedules through the 2020-2021 school year.
Demographic Inputs for Utah’s Long-Term Baseline and Scenario Planning Projections
This document presents inputs and methods that produced the demographic components of change for the Vintage 2021 Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Utah Demographic and Economic Model (UDEM). Details include geographic variations within the state, age and gender patterns, and special types of migration related to retirement, missionaries, students, and other special populations. The document also reports how the limited 2020 decennial census data were combined with other resources and models to inform the process.
Salt Lake City’s Foreign-Born Residents: Demographics of a Dynamic Population
Changes in the composition and characteristics of Salt Lake City’s foreign-born population have resulted in an older, more educated, and more globally diverse population than in previous decades.
June 2023 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment rose in June to its highest level in more than a year (76.3), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found an increase of similar magnitude among Americans as a whole (64.4).
Utah’s County-to-County Migration Profiles
Utah counties experience unique balances of in- and out-migration, flowing from both other states and neighboring counties.
The Geography of Utah’s Migration: A County Level Analysis
Utah counties experience unique balances of in- and out-migration, flowing from both other states and neighboring counties.
Utah Travel and Tourism County Profiles, 2021
In 2021, visitors directly spent significantly across the state, a sharp increase from 2020. The top three spending categories were auto transportation, lodging, and food service. Visitor spending made up a large portion the overall travel and tourism economy.
First Insights – 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristic File
Utah’s growth and change highlighted in previous 2020 Census data products are also apparent in the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristic (DHC) file. This large data product adds more demographic and housing details to the previously released products from the 2020 Census.