Recent Research
Click on the links below to view the most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute 1000-Day Strategic Plan (January 2026)
This 1,000-Day Strategic Plan serves as a tool to guide the institute’s work in helping people make informed decisions. The plan builds on the University’s Strategy 2030 and the David Eccles School of Business’s strategic plan to guide the Gardner Institute's daily and long-term direction.
A Profile of Affordable Housing Programs and Funding in Utah, FY 2022
Nearly 30 programs provided hundreds of millions of dollars in housing assistance to Utah homeowners and renters in FY 2022.
A Portrait of Agriculture in Utah
Utah’s 17,386 farm operations, covering nearly one-fifth of all land statewide, sold a variety of products totaling $2.3 billion in 2022.
State and County Population Estimates for Utah: 2025
Estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee indicate a total Utah population of 3,551,150 as of July 1, 2025, representing an increase of 44,351 residents since July 1, 2024. These estimates reflect a continuing moderation of growth since 2023.
November 2025 Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey
Utah’s consumer sentiment rose 3.2% in November, according to the Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Survey. This increase (from 73.4 in October to 75.8 in November) is within the survey’s margin of error
Northwest Valley Datapoints: Northwest Salt Lake County Demographics
Northwest Valley, home to 331,328 Utahns, includes five communities ranging in size from 36,000 residents in Kearns to nearly 140,000 in West Valley City. Between 2020 and 2024, populations grew in Magna and the west side of Salt Lake City but declined slightly in Kearns, Taylorsville, and West Valley City.
Contributions of College Sports in Utah
Division I collegiate athletics at Utah public universities confer substantial benefits to the community and their respective universities.
Fertility Rates in Flux: A County-Level Analysis of Utah’s Fertility Rates, 2013-2023
The impacts of Utah’s nearly continuous fertility decline since 2008 vary throughout the state. Most county fertility rates remain above the replacement fertility of 2.1, but approximately two-thirds of Utah’s counties experienced significant declines.
