The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

Ahead of tomorrow's International Olympic Committee announcement for the 2034 Winter Olympic host city, a new Gardner Institute fact sheet details the significant demographic and economic growth that has occurred in the state since Salt Lake first hosted the games in 2002 and projected growth through 2034. Interesting fact: Nearly half of Utah's population in 2034 will not have experienced the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, creating an extraordinary opportunity to cement the Olympic legacy for generations to come.

A new report from the Gardner Institute shows that the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, combined with visitor spending at the venues, annually contributes an estimated 1,045 jobs, $78 million in GDP, and approximately $132 million in output to (total intermediate and final industry sales) to the Utah economy from direct, indirect, and induced economic contributions.

Utah’s botanical, cultural, recreational, and zoological tax (informally known as ZAP tax in Salt Lake County) supports organizations that enrich Utahns’ lives. A new analysis from the Gardner Institute shows that Salt Lake County collected $36.7 million in ZAP tax revenue in fiscal year 2023, supporting organizations employing nearly 15,000 individuals and receiving over 11 million visitors to in-person events and services annually. Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP).

Hosting the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will bring $2.6 billion (in 2023 dollars) in net new direct expenditures to Utah from 2024 through 2034, according to a report released today by the Gardner Institute. This will generate estimated cumulative total economic impacts of $6.6 billion in output, almost $3.9 billion in state gross domestic product (GDP), over 42,000 job-years of employment, and $2.5 billion in personal income.

On June 26, the Gardner Institute hosted its quarterly “Storytelling through Data” event, co-sponsored by The Salt Lake Tribune. Our topic was Utah’s middle class, and we were joined by researchers and state experts who shared their insights on how best to support Utahns’ future prosperity. Listen to the full conversation on our latest "Informed Discussions" Podcast, available wherever you listen!

The mean center of population and employment in northern Utah both fall in Salt Lake City, according to a new analysis from the Gardner Institute. This reflects the strong influence Utah’s Greater Salt Lake economic region, namely Salt Lake City and County, plays as the state’s cultural, economic, and political heart. The region encompasses 86.7% of the state’s population and includes nearly 90.0% of the state’s employment.

U.S. and Utah fertility rates continued a multi-year decline in 2022. A new fact sheet released today by the Gardner Institute shows that the U.S. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined from 1.664 in 2021 to 1.656 in 2022, a 0.5% decline. Utah’s rate, which has declined or stayed constant for 14 years, declined from 1.919 in 2021 to 1.853 in 2022.

On June 12, the Gardner Institute hosted its monthly Newsmaker Breakfast, which focused on homelessness in Utah. We were joined by state leaders to discuss the state's next steps for homeless services. The discussion included potential new policies, investments, and outreach efforts necessary to make substantial progress in restoring dignity and improving lives. The Utah Impact Partnership co-sponsored the event. Tune in to the latest episode of our "Informed Discussions" Podcast to hear the discussion, available wherever you get your podcasts!

How is it that the highest achievers are the most disappointed later in life? What can you do to live your biggest life and also be happy? These are some of the questions raised by author and impact scholar Arthur Brooks, PhD, during a recent visit to The University of Utah. Brooks met with University of Utah Health physician leaders and hospital administrators as part of his higher education initiative. Read more highlights from the visit in a recent blog from Dr. Michael Good and Gardner Institute director Natalie Gochnour.

"Although Utah is the youngest state, a recent report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah found that the state's population age is gradually increasing because of declining fertility rates and the aging of the adult population, trends also seen on the national level." More on Utah's demographic trends in a recent edition of Newsweek.