Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis Archives

From Marriage to Economics: Melissa Kearney Unravels ‘The Two-Parent Privilege’

In a thought-provoking event hosted by the Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis, economist and author Melissa Kearney delved into the profound advantages children gain from having two married parents. The event centered around Kearney's insightful book, "The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind," where she skillfully presents a data-driven case for the economic benefits [...]

Lisa Collins2023-11-27T15:40:16-07:00November 27th, 2023|

Should Utah eliminate the sales tax on food?

Utah legislators are once again debating whether to eliminate the sales tax on food, in hopes of giving a break to lower-income households. But Eccles School professor Adam Looney argues in a new op-ed that while the proposal is laudable in its aims, it is based on a misinterpretation of economic data. Most of the benefit from eliminating the 1.75% state sales tax would [...]

Jerry Norton2023-04-19T19:02:36-06:00February 22nd, 2023|

Announcing the Marriner S. Eccles Institute Rising Scholar in Finance Award for Ph.D. students

The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah is proud to announce the Marriner S. Eccles Institute Rising Scholar in Finance Award. Funded through the Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis, the scholarship provides $5,000 per year for the first two years of the Eccles Ph.D. program. This generous award for Ph.D. students with an emphasis in [...]

Lisa Collins2023-04-19T19:43:01-06:00October 18th, 2021|

New data shows unemployment benefits do not discourage job hunting

Governors and legislatures around the country are hoping that ending Unemployment Insurance (UI) will light a fire under those who are seeking jobs. But a new study shows the end to those benefits hasn't had the anticipated outcome. “To evaluate the impact of the expiration of additional (unemployment insurance) payments, we asked respondents whether this expiration will influence the time and effort they devote [...]

Jerry Norton2021-08-11T12:18:52-06:00August 11th, 2021|

New DAs decrease police violence, new study shows

When a new district attorney takes office, police kill fewer people, according to a new study from Allison Stashko, an assistant professor in the Business Economics Group. "Deaths decline no matter what the new prosecutor’s political party or policy platform might be," Stashko writes. "During that time, we find no changes in arrest rates or assaults on police officers. That suggests that officers can [...]

Jerry Norton2021-07-16T13:34:32-06:00July 16th, 2021|

Adam Looney: The case for targeted student loan debt relief

Student debt relief has become a hot topic in the Biden administration, with many calling for across-the-board forgiveness. But Adam Looney, executive director of the Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis, says a more targeted approach is in order, since much of the debt - 36% - is owed by individuals in the top 20% of income distribution. Read Looney's full [...]

Jerry Norton2021-03-23T17:18:30-06:00March 23rd, 2021|

Statewide mask mandate benefits picking up press mentions

New research by several Eccles School faculty is showing up in news articles across the country. The research shows that state-wide mask mandates benefit local economies and provide health benefits. County-or-city-wide mandates do not appear to have the same benefits. Read more about the research in Forbes, The Washington Post, CBS Money Watch, The Chicago Tribune, and the Mississippi Free Press.

Jerry Norton2021-01-11T13:25:05-07:00December 17th, 2020|

Does the middle class get a bad deal from the U.S. tax system?

The tax burden on the middle-class is a huge talking point for politicians. But is the burden actually that onerous? New research from Adam Looney and his colleagues shows that many in the middle class get more benefits than they pay in taxes. Read about their findings in The Washington Post.

Jerry Norton2021-01-11T13:09:20-07:00December 11th, 2020|

New study: Statewide mask requirements save lives, livelihoods

Researchers at the Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis have found that statewide mask requirements not only reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but they also spur more economic activity, while countywide mask requirements actually depress economic activity. “The thing that really pops out,” said lead research Nathan Seegert, assistant professor of Finance at the Eccles School, “is that statewide mask mandates [...]

Jerry Norton2020-11-24T15:48:23-07:00November 24th, 2020|

Black, Latinx residents pay higher property taxes than white counterparts

Is your property tax evaluation racist? Probably so, according to new research from Eccles School economist Troup Howard. He and his co-author Carlos Avenancio-León of Indiana University looked at data from 118 million homes over the course of a decade, and found a huge "assessment gap" that shows Black and Latinx residents pay 10 to 13 percent more than white residents for the same [...]

Jerry Norton2020-07-23T11:19:36-06:00July 23rd, 2020|