'But, why Utah?'.

• Author: Cox, Spencer J.
• Position: SILICON SLOPES

It was a simple question, but for some reason I didn't really understand it, or at least I wasn't expecting it. Across the table sat the Crown Prince of Luxembourg (no really, it's a thing). He was young, bright, articulate and here on a trade mission representing his country. We had just finished discussing Utah's incredibly robust (No. 1 for job growth) and diverse (4th in the nation) economy. We talked about the rapid growth of Silicon Slopes and the thriving aerospace and financial sectors. He was clearly knowledgeable about it all, but with a puzzled look he asked again: "Why Utah? Why is Utah having so much success?"

I don't remember exactly how I answered him. I'm sure I talked about our educated workforce, bilingual population and outdoor recreation opportunities. I probably mentioned our low taxes and limited regulations. I might have quoted Forbes magazine's nearly annual ritual of ranking Utah as the best state for business. I'm pretty sure I didn't tell him it was because we have an amazing lieutenant governor. Whatever I said, he seemed satisfied with my answer.

I, however, was not. Over the intervening months, I have asked myself and others that question often. Why is this small, square, rural, western state having the type of success usually reserved for bigger, coastal states? While I may not have the perfect answer, the path our nation has taken over the past few years and months might give us some insight. In a world that is increasingly divided and chaotic, Utah stands out more than ever.

First, Utah leads the nation in volunteerism and charitable giving, and has for years. It is part of our cultural fabric. We believe in giving back and making our communities better places to live. And this isn't just true of our citizens, it applies to our businesses as well. If you move your business to Utah, we expect you to give back. And you do. As a former business executive, I was presented almost daily with requests and opportunities to donate or serve. And every time we did, our company grew stronger. This type of giving leads to better businesses, better employees and better communities and takes pressure off of government to solve every societal ill.

Second, while our government in Utah is not perfect, we are less afraid of data-driven decision-making. While it is true that government was designed to be slow and methodical--a truth that can be maddening to...