For some Americans, particularly those still facing economic challenges wrought by the successive presidential administrations of Barack Obama and George W. Bush, the national outlook under President Trump may be looking up, but in their home state, daunting struggles may remain.
For those living outside the Western state of Utah, it may be helpful to look more closely at the Beehive State for ideas and encouragement on how a regional economy, religious devotion and local politics can improve people’s financial condition.
In Salt Lake City, Utah’s state capital, statistics show that the likelihood that someone can move from the poorest 20 percent of the urban social demographic to the richest 20 percent is 10.8 percent, a rate of upward mobility that’s more than double the comparable figure of 4 percent found in cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina.
How did Utah achieve such an admirable level of opportunity for its poorest residents? Religion likely has a lot to do with it.
The Mormon church, better known as the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, is essentially Utah’s state-endorsed religion, due to the numbers of people that belong to it, although other religious groups do thrive and practice their faiths in the state.
The Mormon church in Utah offers social services that are efficient and well-funded, and it assists people with everything from finding jobs to solving marriage quandaries. Churches function as informal social networks that allow people to build “human capital,” which in turn enables them to lead healthier lives.
The church also makes clear to its followers that while it’s happy to help out, “help is only a temporary waypoint on the road to self-sufficiency, not a way of life,” according to a recent article in Bloomberg News.
The author of this perceptive article wrote that she found Mormons of faith are often asked to work in exchange for the help they receive and that someone who relies on the church too much will generally be provided with “a verbal kick in the pants.”
Key words that people were quick to point out to her were “self-reliant” and “individual.” The author further noted that in contrast with the church, federal agencies aren’t allowed to speak to welfare recipients with such frankness due to potential racial discrimination lawsuits.
While both Utah and the Mormon church are less racially diverse than other parts of the country, the church’s policies on who’s eligible to become a priest are far less discriminatory than in the past (African-Americans were barred from the priesthood until 1978).
Given the church’s central place in society, it stands to reason that its role in the welfare of the state’s citizens is an outsized one. But that’s not to say the state government doesn’t also do its part.
The Utah government recently led a successful “war on homelessness” (documented cases are down by 74 percent, thanks to an initiative begun over 10 years ago) and is currently engaged in pronounced battles against intergenerational poverty.
The author of the article cited above said she was “astonished at how cheerful the civil servants [of the state government] were.” She said that no one she spoke with — even off the record — complained of budgets not being big enough or staff not being numerous enough to handle a job. This stands in marked contrast to experiences in many other parts of the country.
Politically, Utah is one of the “reddest” states in the nation, but people tend to practice a compassionate brand of conservatism. Residents of Utah tend to marry young and stay married. State taxes are low, there’s a small-government ethos, and the people have a passion for being open to business.
Utah-schooled politicians such as 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Republican Utah Representative Chris Stewart have proven that close affiliation with one’s religion and impressive business credentials don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
The world-famous firms of Sinclair Oil, Skywest Airlines, Overstock.com, Browning Arms, Huntsman Corporation, Vivint, LANDesk and WorkFront are all headquartered in Utah, and the founders of Marriott International, JetBlue Airways and WordPerfect all grew up there.
The state’s Mormon-affiliated population has a history of independence, temperance from alcohol and a strong work ethic. Church followers are expected to serve as missionaries around the age of 20; typically, they’re sent overseas and must learn a foreign language, an experience that instills toughness and discipline.
The Mormon church is known for its tendencies toward organization and cost-effectiveness. The highly-regarded Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University charges members of the faith just $10,000 per year to attend, while its location of Provo has become a high-tech hub for graduates.
In short, Utah has a lot to teach other states about the role of religion in society and how tightly it can be integrated while serving as a model and an inspiration for private enterprise. Demonstrating good morals and responsibility to young people at an early age clearly has produced positive economic benefits for this state of three million people.
Utah has also topped national polls for high levels of well-being in recent years, according to polling organization Gallup-Healthways. The Beehive in the state’s emblem likely has a lot to do with the aforementioned achievements, but clear air, plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreation and clean living also contribute considerably.
Perhaps President Trump can tap more Utah residents for roles in the federal government in the near future, so the rest of the country can realize similar success.
Regards,
Ethan Warrick
Editor
Wealth Authority
