John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
Among Utah’s counties, Uintah County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 10.1% from 11.5% in 2012 to 21.6% in 2022, and up 14.3% from just 7.3% in 1970. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Uintah County jumped from $4,740 in 2012 to $7,862 in 2022, a stark contrast to the $1,387 recorded in 1970.
Duchesne County followed with the second-largest increase in transfer dependency, increasing 8.4% from 13.8% in 2012 to 22.2% in 2022, and an overall increase of 13.1% from 1970’s 9.1% transfer dependency. This trend is reflected in per capita amounts, with residents of Duchesne County receiving an average of $10,153 in transfer income in 2022, up from $6,486 in 2012 and more than double the $1,387 recorded in 1970.
Additionally, Carbon County and San Juan County had the highest percentage of income derived from government transfers, at 30.5% in 2022, making them the counties with the highest overall transfer dependency. Emery County and Sevier County followed closely behind, with transfer dependency rates of 29.2% and 26.2% in 2022, respectively.
For comparison, the statewide average was 12.7% in 2022, showing a lower dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $7,551 per resident in 2022, compared to $11,542 nationwide.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
In Utah, reliance on government transfers was just 7.3% (or $1,515 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to 12.7% (or $7,551 per capita) in 2022, reflecting a total increase of 5.4% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.
In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Utah included:
- Social Security: $2,543 (33.7% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $1,655 (21.9% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $1,317 (17.4% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $874 (11.6% of total transfers)
With 11.9% of the population aged 65 and older, Utah has a demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide. In Utah, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 7.3% (or $1,515 per capita) in 1970 to 12.7% (or $7,551 per capita) in 2022.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Dependency on Transfers (%) | Change Since 2012 | Change Since 1970 | Per Capita Amount (2022) | Per Capita Change Since 2012 | Per Capita Change Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver County | 23.3% | 2.6% | 10.2% | $11,102 | $3,481 | $8,853 |
| Box Elder County | 16.6% | 0% | 10.4% | $7,727 | $1,632 | $6,427 |
| Cache County | 14.2% | 0.4% | 6.3% | $6,868 | $1,681 | $5,558 |
| Carbon County | 30.5% | 7.7% | 19% | $13,812 | $4,717 | $11,598 |
| Daggett County | 24.7% | 7.7% | 17.2% | $11,542 | $3,906 | $10,356 |
| Davis County | 11.3% | 0.6% | 7% | $6,554 | $1,606 | $5,661 |
| Duchesne County | 22.2% | 8.4% | 13.1% | $10,153 | $3,667 | $8,634 |
| Emery County | 29.2% | 7.4% | 17.2% | $11,537 | $4,164 | $9,608 |
| Garfield County | 20.3% | -1.1% | 8.3% | $11,323 | $3,536 | $9,380 |
| Grand County | 17.5% | 1.6% | 12% | $12,259 | $4,351 | $11,075 |
| Iron County | 23.1% | 0.3% | 15.3% | $9,153 | $2,267 | $7,825 |
| Juab County | 18.1% | -2.1% | 5.6% | $8,883 | $2,154 | $6,919 |
| Kane County | 22.3% | 0.4% | 13.1% | $11,398 | $2,578 | $9,684 |
| Millard County | 21.6% | 1.2% | 10.9% | $10,183 | $2,783 | $8,360 |
| Morgan County | 9.1% | -0.1% | 4% | $6,199 | $1,381 | $4,994 |
| Piute County | 24.4% | -12.3% | 11.2% | $15,964 | $5,381 | $13,963 |
| Rich County | 19.2% | 3% | 11.4% | $8,683 | $2,883 | $7,189 |
| Salt Lake County | 11.9% | -0.2% | 4.8% | $7,872 | $1,907 | $6,240 |
| San Juan County | 30.5% | 4.9% | 12.5% | $10,857 | $3,867 | $8,536 |
| Sanpete County | 24.5% | 1.6% | 11.9% | $10,308 | $3,255 | $8,092 |
| Sevier County | 26.2% | 1.7% | 15.2% | $11,350 | $3,271 | $9,444 |
| Summit County | 3.1% | -1% | -3.9% | $7,022 | $2,431 | $5,394 |
| Tooele County | 13.5% | 0.4% | 8.7% | $6,275 | $1,316 | $5,217 |
| Uintah County | 21.6% | 10.1% | 14.3% | $7,862 | $3,122 | $6,475 |
| Utah County | 10.6% | -2.5% | 2.7% | $5,728 | $947 | $4,437 |
| Wasatch County | 7.9% | -2.1% | -1.4% | $6,578 | $1,972 | $4,935 |
| Washington County | 21% | -2.8% | 10.4% | $10,642 | $2,393 | $8,821 |
| Wayne County | 23.3% | 0.6% | 11.6% | $11,823 | $4,198 | $10,068 |
| Weber County | 16% | -0.2% | 8.7% | $8,174 | $1,563 | $6,473 |
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