Building systems thatactually move the needle.
Essays, analysis, policy thinking, and field notes from the intersection of housing, economic strategy, infrastructure, philanthropy, capital, and civic execution.
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Latest insights
Q3: Forecast - Utah Is Powering On
Notes from the Utah Economic Council and Do Good’s September forecast
Two days ago, Do Good Principal Michael Parker joined some of Utah’s leading economists for the September meeting of the Utah Economic Council.
The discussion was lively, the disagreements were useful, and the purpose was straightforward: each forecaster brings an independent view, then the group tests the assumptions until the consensus is better than any one forecast that went into the room.
Do Good participates as a private-sector member, bringing experience across business, housing, economic development and philanthropy to the forecasting process.
America’s barn still needs neighbors to keep it standing
Do Good principal Michael Parker, who also serves as executive director of the Cities Strong Foundation, joined Dan England and Scott Anderson in reflecting on an old American tradition: the barn raising.
The Interim Period Is Where Utah Policy Gets Made. Is Your Organization at the Table?
The Utah Legislature's Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel has released the proposed 2026 Interim Study Items. Thirteen committees. More than 80 study items. Months of hearings before a single bill is drafted. This is where the work happens. This is where the people who show up shape what the people who don't show up have to live with.
Why TVs Get Cheaper—and Homes and Healthcare Don't
In housing, we have confused process with purpose. We regulate the size of a home, the shape of a lot, the height of a wall — and then we wonder why so few can afford one. The question worth asking is simple: what does a decent home actually require? Not what the code says. Not what the review board approves. What does a family actually need? If we started there — from the outcome rather than the process — we might find that the answer is smaller, simpler, and considerably less expensive than what we have spent fifty years building toward.
Utah Legislature 2026: Less Money, Bigger Decisions
This session is about doing more with less—making smarter choices with your tax dollars while addressing real problems Utah families face every day.
If you care about where your money goes and what your community gets in return, now's the time to pay attention.
Getting Ready for the 2026 Utah Legislative Session
This isn’t your normal turkey shoot. 🦃⚡️
Getting ready for the 2026 Utah Legislative Session means embracing the chaos, the beauty, and the high-speed policy sprint that makes Utah… Utah.
As we head into Thanksgiving week, I pulled together five reflections on gratitude, governing, and why the “sausage-making” actually inspires me every year.
If you work in public policy, civic leadership, business, or community impact — or if you’re just curious about how Utah’s next chapter is being shaped — I hope you’ll take a look.
Full post below ⬇️
May your Thanksgiving be restful — we’ll all need it before the gavel drops.
#UtahLegislature #Utah2026 #PublicPolicy #CivicLeadership #UtahEconomy #UtahPolitics #StatePolicy #PolicyMaking #CommunityImpact #PublicService #UtahStrong #CitiesStrong #DoGood
![Western Economic Reset: A Perfect [Fire]Storm Brewing?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6411513412d24b76c0201a85/1736798673489-OMJQG0FQ9WLJC72A1V3F/Utah.png)
Western Economic Reset: A Perfect [Fire]Storm Brewing?
The coming months will be critical in determining whether this truly develops into the mini-black swan event it appears to be, or whether the region's economic resilience will help contain these cascading disruptions. Either way, it's clear that the old playbook for regional economic planning may need significant revision as we face this new landscape of interconnected regional and catastrophic risks.
A Leading Innovator
Utah's health and life sciences sector isn't just a growth story—it's a testament to the state's commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and advancing scientific progress. In recent years, Utah has emerged as a formidable player in the biotech arena, driven by a combination of talent, research, and a supportive ecosystem.
Housing Affordability and Homelessness in Utah
The visual data array conveys the interplay between housing costs and homelessness across different states, honing in on Utah. Here's the detailed analysis of the insights it offers:
Utah’s Tech Colleges Have Incredible Impact
Utah’s technical colleges – Bridgerland, Davis, Dixie, Mountainland, Ogden-Weber, Southwest, Tooele, and Uintah Basin – ended the recent legislative session with 5.3% growth in funding for the upcoming budget year. These eight institutions across the state provide competency-based education and training programs for adults and high school students, offering flexible programming and scheduling to meet the needs of the state’s present and future workforce. Degree-granting institutions, in contrast, offer four-year programs for bachelor degrees and sometimes advanced degrees.
2024 Session Recap
The Legislature wrapped up its annual session on Friday with a final budget for next year of $29.4 billion. Among the millions of dollars in new funding heading out into the state are initiatives large and small to support Utah’s business community and continue driving the best state economy in the nation.
2024 Revenue Estimates
The latest state revenue estimates reveal important trends for Utah's economy, impacting strategic planning and forecasting for businesses.