Informed Discussions Podcast

On July 10, the Gardner Institute hosted its monthly Newsmaker Breakfast, which focused on the estimated economic impacts of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Utah. We are joined today by Salt Lake City-Utah Committee and Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation members who discussed the results of a new Institute report on the topic and what the data mean ahead of the 2034 Games.

On July 24, the International Olympic Committee will vote on the 2034 Winter Olympic Games host city. Both the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games are confident Salt Lake City, Utah, will be chosen to host the games for a second time. Ahead of the vote, the Gardner Institute has worked with the organizing committee to determine the potential economic and fiscal impacts of hosting the event, which includes direct expenditures and additional economic activity, jobs, and revenue generated in the state.

Our panelists were Catherine Raney Norman, Chair of Salt Lake City-Utah Olympic Committee and four-time Olympic speed skater; Brett Hopkins, COO/CFO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Olympic Committee; Colin Hilton, President and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation; and John Downen, Senior Research Fellow at the Gardner Institute.

Gardner Institute director Natalie Gochnour moderated the discussion.

On June 26, the Gardner Institute hosted its quarterly “Storytelling through Data” event, co-sponsored by the Salt Lake Tribune. These events feature conversations focused on data-grounded, solutions-oriented dialogue critical to life quality in Utah. 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.

Utah’s middle class represents a larger share of households than the national average. The Beehive State also possesses greater income equality, social capital, and upward mobility than other states. Despite these favorable hallmarks, challenges remain on how to support and grow the middle class in Utah. Wages, for example, vary greatly by education level, which is markedly impacted by socioeconomic status. Social determinants of health also greatly impact the life expectancy and upward mobility of Utahns.

For the conversation, we were joined by Christine Richman, Principal at GSBS Consulting; Bill Crim, President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake; and Levi Pace, Senior Research Economist at the Gardner Institute. The panelists shared their thoughts on potential policy prescriptions to help support a strong middle class in Utah and to help build a civil society that benefits all Utahns. The Gardner Institute also released a fact sheet summarizing economic data trends related to Utah’s middle class, which you can view by visiting our website at gardner.utah.edu. 

Salt Lake Tribune Executive Editor Lauren Gustus moderated the conversation.

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. 

Utah’s challenge with chronic homelessness reached critical levels last year, with a 96% increase from 2019 to 2023, including a sharp 27% rise just last year. To combat this, state leaders – including state government, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, the philanthropic community, and service providers – aligned to implement structural changes that incentivize and enhance services across the care continuum. We were joined by Wayne Niederhauser, Co-Chair of the Utah Homeless Services Board, Carol Hollowell, Executive Director of the Switchpoint Community Resource Center, and Utah State Sen. Kirk Cullimore.

Gardner Institute Director Natalie Gochnour moderated the conversation.

Utah’s resilient economy continues to outperform the nation. Record-low unemployment, top-ranked labor force participation, and competitive living costs mark our elite standing among states. This success took intention and understanding from policymakers and business leaders alike. As we look to the future, decision-makers are asking the necessary questions to help maintain life quality in our state: How do we support, enhance, and expand the distinctive features Utahns value? How can we retain our elite economy with rising costs? What features define the “New Utah,” and how can decision-makers best understand them?

For our April 2024 Newsmaker Breakfast, the Gardner Institute was joined by business and community leaders to discuss current efforts to create a strategy for sustained prosperity in Utah. The event was co-sponsored by the Salt Lake Chamber. 

Gardner Institute Director Natalie Gochnour moderated the discussion. 

Panelists

Derek Miller, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber

Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Utah House of Representatives 

Phil Dean, Chief Economist, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

On February 26, the Institute hosted its quarterly “Storytelling through Data” event, co-sponsored by the Salt Lake Tribune. The topic was Utah’s health care coverage landscape. We were joined by MIT professor and MacArthur Genius Grant winner Amy Finkelstein for a lively discussion on health care reform, coverage, and potential future policy solutions.

There are high rates of private health insurance enrollment, low rates of public health insurance program enrollment, and declining uninsured rates in Utah. That said, uninsured rates remain high for some populations, and health care affordability and access are concerns for many Utahns, if not the top concern.

We were joined at the event by an expert panel that discussed the U.S. health insurance system and proposals for change in the context of Utah’s health data, markets, and outcomes. 

We were honored to host Professor Amy Finkelstein. Amy is the John and Jennie S. MacDonald Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is also the Co-Scientific Director of J-PAL North America, a research center at MIT designed to encourage and facilitate randomized evaluations of important domestic policy issues. Other roles include Co-Director of the Public Economics Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a member of the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Fellow of the Econometric Society. She has received numerous acknowledgments for her work, including the John Bates Clark Medal from the American Economic Association and the MacArthur Fellowship. Her latest book, “We’ve Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care”, gives a lively and provocative proposal for health insurance reform.

Amy was joined on stage by David Eccles School of Business Professor Allison Witman and Gardner Institute director of industry research Laura Summers. The panel was moderated by Salt Lake Tribune Executive Editor Lauren Gustus. 

Under the direction of the Utah Hospital Association and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the Utah Behavioral Health Coalition convened to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to improving people’s behavioral health. 

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, in partnership with Leavitt Partners, a Health Management Associates company, assisted the Utah Behavioral Health Coalition in assessing needs, gaps, and challenges in Utah’s behavioral health systems. This assessment informed the development of the Behavioral Health Master Plan.

Gardner Institute Director of Industry Research Laura Summers joins the program to discuss the plan in greater detail.

Economic data make abundantly clear that post-secondary education improves lives and supports civil society. Higher educational attainment correlates strongly with increased employment, earnings, and upward mobility, all while supporting civil society through increased voter participation, volunteerism, and more.

On February 14, Utah’s university leadership explored the vital importance of Utah’s public system of higher education to the state economy. We were joined by the University of Utah President Taylor Randall, Utah State President Elizabeth Cantwell, Weber State University President Brad Mortensen, and Davis Technical College President Darin Brush.

The Gardner Institute also released a technical brief on education's contributions to Utah’s economic dynamism.

Gardner Institute Director Natalie Gochnour moderated the conversation. 

Panelists: 

University of Utah President Taylor Randall 

Utah State University President Elizabeth Cantwell 

Davis Technical College President Darin Brush 

Weber State University President Brad Mortensen 

Utah ended the 2023 water year in September with higher-than-average accumulated precipitation. As a result, Great Salt Lake rose five and a half feet at the south arm of the lake after hitting a record low in Fall 2022. Critical issues remain, however, and policymakers continue to address how best to protect and preserve Great Salt Lake and its ecosystem.

For our January 2024 Newsmaker Breakfast, the Gardner Institute was joined by decision-makers and policy experts who gave an update on Great Salt Lake, presented new policy sketches, discussed the impact of the 2023 water year, and outlined the next steps for Utah leaders to consider.

The latest summary publication synthesizes essential data and insights so decision-makers have the information they need to improve water management, increase water deliveries to the lake, mitigate adverse impacts, and recover the lake to a healthy range.

We were joined by an all-star panel of thought leaders and members of the Great Salt Lake Strike Team: Brian Steed, Executive Director, Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air; David Tarboton, Director, Utah Water Research Laboratory; Candice Hasenyager, Director, Utah Division of Water Resources; Paul Brooks, Professor, University of Utah; and William Anderregg, Director of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy at the University of Utah.

The conversation was moderated by Gardner Institute director Natalie Gochnour.

Downtown Salt Lake City is the foremost center for sports, entertainment, culture, and education in the Mountain West. Demographic and economic data show the city’s population is growing, with new construction taking the urban center’s skyline to new heights. In the next few years, Utah’s capital faces an inspiring opportunity to potentially welcome thousands of new residents, a professional sports franchise, a second Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and related entertainment and cultural offerings.

These opportunities do not come without challenges. Social, economic, and environmental issues remain that must be addressed if downtown Salt Lake City is to continue to buck the trend of urban decline and instead serve as an example of what is possible for city centers across the nation.

On Nov. 30, as part of the “Storytelling through Data” series presented quarterly in partnership with the Salt Lake Tribune, the Gardner Institute was joined by city leaders and decision-makers for an in-depth discussion on the positive economic and demographic indicators that are driving Utah’s capital city’s success, as well as the challenges to be addressed by our leaders as the next chapter for downtown Salt Lake City begins. 

We were honored to welcome Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Downtown Alliance Executive Director Dee Brewer, and Tribune News Reporter Tony Semerad to the panel.

The conversation was moderated by Gardner Institute director Natalie Gochnour.

The Gardner Institute employs a senior education analyst and a team of demographers and economists knowledgeable about Utah’s education policies and economy. We also benefit from a newly formed Education Advisory Council that guides our research agenda and supports the development of an education policy practice area. Our focus includes K-12 and higher education research, analysis, and reporting on education policies, Utah demographics, public finance, and the economy.

On this episode, Gardner Institute Senior Education Analyst Andrea Brandley walks through the latest data on education's role in the state's economy, Utah's K-12 teacher workforce, and more!