Each gubernatorial election year since 2004, Utah Foundation organizes the Utah Priorities Project in partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics to identify what voters view as the top ten issues for the election year. This month, Utah Foundation will release a series of policy briefs of each of the top ten issues. These briefs will provide important information and policy analysis to ensure candidates and voters are well informed of the facts and trends related to each of the top ten issues.
In 2012, voters listed poverty as the 9
th most important priority in the election year. This policy brief looks at poverty rates over time, recessionary effects on poverty, and the poverty rates of subgroups in Utah. It also shows the impact that certain governmental measures have on mitigating poverty. Lastly, it examines how poverty is measured and alternative measures.