Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Immigration in Utah, as well as in the United States, has always been an issue that has evoked intense emotion and debate. Recent increases in the number of immigrants coming to the U.S. have caused the issue to become a top concern for Utahns.
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Teacher quality was rated by voters as a top concern about education in the 2008 Utah Priorities Survey. This brief explains why teacher quality improvement is such an important issue, how it can be measured, some strategies attempted around the nation for improving teacher quality, and a review of research showing which tactics are most likely or unlikely to work.
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Did you know Utah is the sixth-lowest state in the nation for violent crime rates? Or that we have more property crime than the national average? Did you also know that the popular allegation that Utah is the nation’s leader in white-collar crime is a myth? Read this research brief to learn more about crime in Utah, including crime rates in the five best and worst cities by category.
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Rising gas prices, heavy road congestion, and the desire for more efficient transportation options have made transportation an increasingly important issue for Utah voters. Transportation ranked 9th in the 2008 Utah Priorities Survey; in 2004 it was the 11th ranked issue. Among the top concerns in this area were commute and travel times, the quality of Utah’s roads, the development of public transit options, and expanding the capacity of freeways and highways. This research brief … Continued
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
The state of the housing market in Utah has been and continues to be a topic of concern for Utah residents. Housing issues, such as “bubbles” home value depreciation, and housing affordability affect nearly everyone, whether or not they are current homeowners. This research brief reviews the current status of Utah’s housing situation, including trends in homeownership, prices, sales, affordability, and some of the impacts the housing market has on the economy.
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Since 1991, Utah state government spending has generally grown slower than Utah’s economy, except for brief “bumps” during economic booms. Through most of this period, health spending and transportation capital spending grew faster than the economy, while all other categories, including public education (the largest state spending area) declined in terms of spending per $1,000 of personal income. The most recent two fiscal years, however, brought large increases in state spending, mostly focused in public … Continued
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Utah is commonly referred to as a low-wage state, a status which can influence state welfare policies, affect labor market decisions, and deter talented persons from seeking employment within the state. This status is somewhat misleading, however, because it is based on numbers which do not take into account the unique structure of Utah’s labor force. Understanding the socioeconomic factors which influence Utah’s labor force and correcting for this bias reveals that Utah employees receive … Continued
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Many Utahns are familiar with the fact that Utah ranks last in per pupil spending. But what do other states buy with their additional per pupil expenditures? How does Utah’s lower spending level impact schools and learning? This report looks deeper into the differences in education spending between Utah and the U.S. average, comparing specific spending categories, such as instruction, teacher salaries, pupil support, and administration. The report also compares Utah to five demographic peer … Continued
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
How much energy do Utahns consume? How has it changed over time? Where does Utah’s energy come from? What can Utahns can expect for energy prices and supplies in the future? The Utah Priorities Survey ranked energy, including gas prices, as the number one issue of concern for Utahns this year. This report provides data and graphs to illustrate Utah’s current energy situation and trends, and makes these findings:
Written by: Stephen Hershey Kroes
Throughout this election year, Utah Foundation will work to provide information, analysis, and public dialogue on the issues that matter most to you as you consider the future of Utah. The project began with a survey conducted by Dan Jones and Associates to understand which issues are of greatest concern to voters. The results of this survey are now available here by clicking the links below. The survey found that the top 10 issues for … Continued