Recent Research
Recently Published
The most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
January 2022 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment rose by 1.5 points from December to January, increasing to 76.9, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Utah Consumer Sentiment Survey. This slight increase is coming from Utahns' responses in January of feeling better off financially compared to a year ago and improvements on long-term outlooks.
The State of Utah’s Travel and Tourism Industry, 2020
Utah’s travel and tourism industry—the hardest-hit industry by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic—experienced a healthy recovery during the first half of 2021, particularly in Utah’s rural areas.
December Newsmaker Breakfast: Utah’s Latest Population Estimates
Population estimates for July 1, 2021, released today by the Gardner Institute, indicate the state added approximately 71,936 people since the 2020 census, reaching an estimated 3,343,552 Utahns. From July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, the population grew by 58,729 people. This annual growth rate of 1.8% is the highest since 2017. Net migration contributed 59% of Utah’s population growth over the past year, up from 49% of state growth the year before.
State and County Population Estimates for Utah: 2021
Estimates for July 1, 2021 indicate that the state added approximately 71,936 people since the 2020 census, reaching an estimated 3,343,552 Utahns. From July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, the population grew by 58,729 people. This annual growth rate of 1.8% is the highest it has been since 2017. The 2021 estimates indicate a resurgence in high growth as the economy and society return to a new normal during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Roadmap for Improving Utah’s Behavioral Health System 2021 End-of-Year Update
The Utah Hospital Association (UHA) released A Roadmap for Improving Utah’s Behavioral Health System in February 2020. The Roadmap was developed in collaboration with UHA’s behavioral health committee and mental health workgroup, comprising members of the mental health community. The purpose of the roadmap is to provide a guide policy makers, UHA, and other stakeholders can use to support legislation, policy decisions, and program development to help ensure every citizen in the state of Utah has access to appropriate behavioral health services and supports.
December 2021 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment declined by 1.5 points from November to December, decreasing to a year low of 75.4, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Utah Consumer Sentiment Survey. Utah consumer confidence has steadily declined from year highs experienced in March, as Utahns are increasingly becoming concerned about inflation and new waves of COVID variants.
USHE Data Book: The Costs and Benefits of Higher Education
As a large share of Utah’s state budget and a key input to economic development, higher education plays a significant role in the Utah economy and is associated with many individual and societal benefits.
Curbing the Youth Vaping Pandemic: A Review of How Utah’s Laws and Policies Compare Nationally and to Other States
Vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes, is a public health issue both nationally and here in the state of Utah. Rates of vaping doubled nationally between 2017 and 2019, and Utah has experienced a significant increase over the past several years as well.
