Written by: Dan Bammes
The Utah Foundation Quality of Life Index shows a 10-point decline from 2013 to 2026. Utah Foundation President Shawn Teigen says housing affordability, the cost of living, and access to good jobs are among the most pressing concerns. The most important issue is whether communities are willing to work together.
Written by: Shawn Teigen
Some of the most important things in life are the hardest to measure. Economic growth we can count. Jobs, wages and investment show up clearly in the data. But the deeper question — whether Utah is still a great place to build a good life and flourish — is harder to capture. The 2026 Utah Community Quality of Life Index provides a clear answer: Utah remains a remarkable place to live, but the qualities that … Continued
Written by: Dan Bammes
Dan Bammes interviews Utah Foundation Research Director Christopher Collard about the report A Tale of Two Ballots. This is the best comparison available of ranked-choice and simple-plurality voting in Utah. And this is the best podcast about the report. Check it out!
Written by: Dan Bammes
In a new report, Breaking the Cycle: Recidivism and Reentry in Utah, the Utah Foundation examines Utah’s efforts to prevent offenders from returning to prison after release. Utah’s definition of recidivism differs from neighboring states. In fact, many who come back to prison for technical violations of their parole aren’t accounted for in the official numbers. In this edition of Utah Thrives, a roundtable discussion of Utah Foundation staff and board members looks at reasons … Continued
Written by: Dan Bammes
On June 10, 2026, the Utah Foundation – the State of the Nation Project’s Utah partner – hosted a UTA-sponsored “Utah’s Progress Report” event featuring the Project’s first “State of the States” report. The event highlighted Utah’s extremes using the State of the Nation Project’s reports as a lens. This Utah Thrives podcast is an overview of that event, featuring: Shawn Teigen from the Utah Foundation, delving into comparisons between Utah and other states. Robert … Continued
Written by: Dan Bammes
In the second of two podcasts surveying the general plans of counties and municipal governments in Utah on their provisions for aging Utahns, Utah Foundation Research Analyst Ashley Marshall-Cantor looks at some of the specific ideas reflected in those plans. A roundtable discussion follows, including Utah Foundation staff and leaders of agencies serving Utah’s aging population.
Written by: Staff
Most of us have heard that population growth is slowing across the United States. Many of us also know that Utah is a high-growth state. So how does Utah compare to other states? From 2024 to 2025, population growth slowed in 48 states. Four states even saw a population decrease.1 While this means the population of most states grew, that growth is slower than in the past. Slower growth may result from lower birth rates, … Continued
Written by: Christopher Collard
Choosing Communities In 2020, the Utah Foundation surveyed city officials to understand how they view their communities. One of the priorities of Utah’s redistricting commission was to keep together “communities of interest.” With that in mind, the Utah Foundation sought to better understand how city officials viewed their communities and which communities shared interests. To accomplish this, the Utah Foundation showed respondents a map of the state, asking them to select which four to six … Continued
Written by: Dan Bammes
A new Utah Foundation report examines plans to serve Utah’s aging population in communities across the state. Researcher Ashley Marshall-Cantor outlines her findings, followed by a roundtable conversation with representatives of agencies serving older Utahns and their families. The podcast includes a conversation with: Ashley Marshall-Cantor, Utah Foundation Researcher Jimmy Golding, Mountainland Association of Governments Paul Leggett, Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services Joe Hirabayashi, AARP Linda Cole, Mountainland Association of Governments … Continued
Written by: Dan Bammes
This podcast explores the topics of the Utah Foundation’s report, Healthcare Costs for Utahns: A 2026 Update. Dan Bammes narrated the podcast with excerpts from the following guests: Bryn Ramjoue, my529 Shawn Teigen, Utah Foundation Troy Pritchett, University of Utah Health Matthew Slonaker, Utah Health Policy Project Kathryn Macdonald-Poelman, Utah Foundation Brian Monson, Molina Healthcare