Recent Research
Click on the links below to view the most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
October 2025 Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey
Utah’s consumer sentiment dropped 8.4% in October, according to the Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey.1 This decrease (from 80.1 in September to 73.4 in October) is statistically significant.
Tax System Design: Administration and Compliance
Tax burdens extend beyond the dollar amount of tax paid and the associated drag on economic activity (“deadweight loss”). These additional burdens include compliance costs for households and businesses and administrative costs for governments. Different taxes incur different compliance and administrative costs.
The Economic Contributions of Utah’s Ski Industry, 2025
Utah is home to 15 ski resorts, including the nation’s largest ski resort (Park City). Ten of the state's resorts are less than an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Degrees of Opportunity: Aligning Education and Workforce for Utah’s Prosperity
Boosting educational attainment, reducing persistent gaps, and ensuring alignment with workforce demands can help expand opportunity and sustain Utah’s economic momentum.
Educational Achievement and Workforce Development: A Review of Community-Based Approaches
Community-based partnerships engage parents and families and align schools, service providers, and communities around shared goals and outcomes; when designed and implemented effectively, they offer a promising way to improve education, health, and economic opportunity for Utah youth.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, October 2025 (Tri-fold Brochure)
Utah’s travel and tourism industry is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, fostering job creation, supporting local businesses, and generating tax revenue. The industry comprises private and public entities that promote leisure and business travel and provide tourism-related goods and services.
Access to Suicide Prevention Resources: Understanding Ways to Reach Utah’s Veterans
This research aims to understand how active service members and Veterans access suicide prevention resources in Utah. Expanding this understanding can help improve the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (UDVMA) suicide prevention reach and outreach strategies.
September 2025 Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey
Utah’s consumer sentiment rose 0.3% in September, according to the Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey. This increase (from 79.9 in August to 80.1 in September) is within the survey’s margin of error. A similar survey conducted by the University of Michigan reports sentiment fell 5.3% during September among Americans as a whole.
Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute: 2025 Report to the Community
Over the past decade, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute has become Utah’s premier economic and public policy research institute. The 2025 Report to the Community commemorates "10 Years of Impact" and looks ahead to the priorities the Gardner Institute will inform.
Keepers of the Flame: Utah’s Olympic-Sized Opportunity
Few single events in Utah history compare in reach and significance to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. How can Utah leverage the Olympics to sustain the state’s nation-leading prosperity in the face of rapid change and mounting challenges?
