Utah Economy
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute provides analysis and data-driven, context-specific insights about the Utah economy. We prepare in-depth studies on key Utah issues in partnership with stakeholders in the private sector and in state and local government. Our research provides vital information that decision-makers and the public use to help Utah prosper.
Property Tax Insights
The property tax is Utah’s most stable tax. This stability comes from both the less volatile nature of property and the design of Utah’s property tax system.
A Cloudy Crystal Ball: Pandemic Forecasting Challenges Highlight Need for Budget Relief Valves
STATE BUDGET OFFICIALS HAVE RUN a gauntlet of challenges since COVID-19 descended upon the US in January 2020. The nation’s economy whipsawed through the pandemic—from growth to contraction to recovery to overheating—as the federal government’s crisis response encourage shutdowns and unleashed trillions of dollars of stimulus money.
December 2022 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment increased from 64.1 in November to 68.7 in December, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumers. A similar survey by the University of Michigan also found sentiment rose from November (56.8) to December (59.7) among Americans as a whole.
Insight: Pandemic Learning Loss: Diving Deeper into the Data
By: Andrea Thomas Brandley Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™ […]
Gardner Business Review: U.S. and Utah Debt Policy: A Study in Contrasts
The state of Utah’s bonding practices vary dramatically from that of the federal government. Instead of borrowing for ongoing programs as the federal government does, Utah wisely borrows for needed capital projects such as highways and buildings.
November 2022 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment fell from 66.0 in October to 64.1 in November, according to the Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumers. A similar survey by the University of Michigan also found sentiment decreased from October (59.9) to November (56.8) among Americans as a whole.
Utah’s Invisible Workforce: The Economic Contributions and Health Impacts of Family Caregiving
As the need for family caregiving is expected to grow over the next decade, there are concerns about the mental and physical toll it places on Utah’s caregivers.
A Business Vision for Utah’s Energy Future (Data Compendium)
This Data Compendium provides supplementary data, definitions, and focus group summaries for the companion report, “A Business Vision for Utah’s Energy Future.” This companion report can be accessed on the Salt Lake Chamber or Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute website.
A Business Vision for Utah’s Energy Future
Utah's business community envisions an energy future that places Utah at the center of the nation's energy transition by harmonizing environmental and economic progress to ensure a balanced low carbon energy future that remains affordable, reliable, and sustainable.