Op-ed: Utah has strong families, but warning signs loom

Written by: Peter Reichard

Confucius may have put it most succinctly in observing that “the strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” Family is the basic building block of society. To the extent that families are stable, the larger civilization benefits from greater social stability. To the extent that family connections are strong, the members of that family will tend to enjoy stronger social capital and related socioeconomic benefits. Strong family health is inextricably linked … Continued

Significant Statistics | Utah Teacher Pay to 2020

Written by: Shawn Teigen

New data from the U.S. Department of Education suggest that, when adjusting for inflation, teacher pay has held steady from 1990 to 2020. Mountain States’ average teacher pay has — with one exception — been below the national average. Pay in Colorado, Nevada and Arizona neared the U.S. in 1990 but has since decreased. On the other hand, pay has increased in others, including Utah. (And New Mexico skyrocketed from 2019 to 2020.) However, Utah … Continued

Utah Thrives Podcast | Local Ground Rules and the Missing Middle

Written by: Peter Reichard

Expanding housing options in Utah will require expanding what our zoning allows. But what are the best ways of going about that? Answering that question is the topic of the latest installment in the new Utah Foundation study, Is the Middle Missing? A Guide to Expanding Options for Utah Homebuyers and Renters.   Utah Foundation Vice President Shawn Teigen and President Peter Reichard explore the findings of the report in this edition of Utah Thrives, the … Continued