Informed Discussions Podcast

Declining water levels of Great Salt Lake threaten economic activity, local public health, and ecosystems. The situation requires urgent action. Fortunately, science provides crucial perspective, understanding, and scenarios for policymakers to chart a path forward. Many policy levers can help return the lake to healthy levels. Utah’s research universities formed the Great Salt Lake Strike Team to...

The Economic Report to the Governor has been the preeminent source for data and commentary on Utah’s economy for over 30 years. The Utah Economic Council, convened by the David Eccles School of Business and Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, publishes the report annually. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute this week presented the 35th Economic Report to the Governor to Utah Gov. Spencer Co...

A national project called “ The Dignity Index ” launched a demonstration project in Utah aimed at evaluating the level of contempt and dignity in the five federal races. The Index provides measurements of candidate speech on a scale from contemptuous to dignified. With the 2022 midterm elections in the books, the Gardner Institute November Newsmaker Breakfast highlighted Utah’s focus on how the ca...

Utahns are hearing a lot about consumer sentiment, inflation, and the price fluctuation of every day goods. On today's episode, we're discussing how consumer sentiment is measured and what it can tell us about the state and national economies. Gardner Institute chief economist Phil Dean and director of survey research Dianne Meppen join the podcast to break down the latest consumer data.

Utah’s multiracial (two or more races) resident population added the most residents and was the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group regardless of Hispanic or Latino origin between 2010 and 2020. Over the same time period, Utah's fertility rate has declined from the highest  in the country, to the fourth highest.  This decline since mirrors a decadal decline in fertility in every U.S. regio...

US Consumer prices continued to surge in June. Year-over-year Consumer Price Index soared 9.1%, the largest gain since 1981. Utahns and Americans overall are citing it as the number one issue for them and their families. Whether it’s gas, meat, or necessities, prices have been on the rise. Today, we discuss inflation and other key economic insights with Gardner Institute Chief Economist and Public...

On June 21, the Gardner Institute will honor Ivory-Boyer Senior Fellow Jim Wood with its Lifetime Achievement Award. For 47 years, Jim has been a beloved member of the University of Utah family. His continuing work to help us better understand our state, its economy, and its people has helped build a better future for all  Utahns. We sat down with Jim to discuss his career, current economic trends...

Welcome to the Informed Discussions  podcast, where we discuss the latest economic, demographic, and public policy research that is helping Utah prosper. Today, we’ll be talking about a topic on the minds of Utahns: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine, current trends in gas and energy prices, and the future of renewable energy with our guest, Gardner Institute Senior Energy...