Recent Research
Click on the links below to view the most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Utah Economic Council Forecast, March 2025
The Utah Economic Council, convened by the David Eccles School of Business and Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, publishes regular economic forecasts related to the Utah and U.S. economies. This includes potential risks to both the state and national economies that the council assesses and weighs.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Balance of Payments Between Utah and the Federal Government
Utah consistently places in the bottom quarter of states in per capita federal balance of payments (taxes paid less funds received by Utahns) in various measures over time and using different methodologies.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Public Education
Public education underpins Utah’s economic prosperity. Utah will benefit if state leaders coordinate statewide efforts to address teacher burnout, invest in early learning, and support schools in promising modernization practices.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Human Services
As Utah’s population grows and ages, human services require attention upstream and across sectors. Leaders can make sustainable investments in social capital and physical and mental health services.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Utah welcomes the world in less than a decade. The decisions made during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games prepared Utah to host again, but the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be larger and present different challenges and opportunities.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Taxation
Utah's leaders face challenging decisions when weighing tax reform options. They must keep laser focused on Utah’s changing economy and aging population.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Technology Capital
Utah’s engineering and computer science jobs more than doubled from 2000 to 2022, significantly outpacing the nation and firmly establishing Utah as a technology capital.
Public Policy Lessons From the Michael O. Leavitt Administration: Transportation
As Utah’s population grows and becomes more diverse, Utahns must be prepared to invest in transportation choices to maintain the state’s mobility, health, economy, and life quality.
Utah/Federal Government Nexus Data Summary: Medicaid
Medicaid and CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program) fund health care services for about 353,000 Utahns with low income as of February 2025.
Salt Lake City Demographic Changes: 2019 to 2023
Salt Lake City’s population grew 4.5%, from 200,546 to 209,606 residents, between 2019 and 2023 (1.1% annually).
