What is the Utah Priorities Project?

The Utah Priorities Project is an effort to focus political dialogue in this election year on the most important issues facing our state. Through partnerships with KSL TV and Radio, the Deseret News, and the Hinckley Institute of Politics, this project will feature live and online discussions, forums, candidate debates, as well as in-depth, nonpartisan Utah Foundation research on the top issues as determined by our Utah Priorities Survey conducted by Dan Jones and Associates. This website will serve as a library of information on the top issues and will facilitate dialogue about these issues.

Has America's Consumer Spending Bubble Popped?

Since the 1980s, Americans have saved progressively less of their incomes. A few years ago, consumer saving was at its lowest level since the Great Depression. This long downward trend in savings occurred during a time of economic prosperity and was coupled with increasing consumer spending; some say America was experiencing a “bubble” of high consumer spending, building up weakness in the American economy. During the recent recession, personal saving increased and spending slowed. Has it been enough to pop the bubble?
»Read this research brief

Candidate Questionnaires

Our partner, the Deseret News, hosted candidate questionnaires on the issues during the primary election season, including candidates for the U.S. Senate and House races and state and county offices. Those quesionnaires are still relevant for the candidates who remain in their races. Take a look at their responses and look for updated questionnaires on the issues this fall.
»Read the candidates' answers

The 2010 Utah Priorities Survey of Party Delegates and Voters

As part of the 2010 Utah Priorities Project, Utah Foundation, KSL Television and Radio, Deseret News, and the Hinckley Institute sponsored a ground-breaking survey of Utah voters and delegates to the major party conventions. The survey shows distinct differences between party delegates and voters, with delegates usually taking more zealous positions than their party’s voters. The strongest distinctions are, as expected, between the two major parties. The survey also provides insight on Republican delegates’ opinions in the U.S. Senate race.
»Read this report

The 2010 Utah Priorities Survey: The Top Issues and Concerns of Utah Voters for the 2010 Election

During this election season, Utah Foundation is working to focus political dialogue on the issues that matter most to Utah voters. This project begins with a survey of voters to rank the major issues and set the agenda for Utah Foundation’s research and activities this year.
»Read this report