Informed Discussions Podcast

July 2024 Newsmaker Breakfast: Estimated Economic Impacts of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Utah

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.

June 2024 "Storytelling through Data" Event: Utah’s Middle Class

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.

June 2024 Newsmaker Breakfast: Homelessness in Utah and Project Human Dignity

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.

April 2024 Newsmaker Breakfast: The Future of Utah's Economy

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

Storytelling through Data: "Got you Covered? A Health Conversation with MacArthur Genius Grant Winner Amy Finkelstein"

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.