The Sutherland Institute touted the findings while also announcing the creation of the conservative policy group's new Center for Family and Society, which will focus on policies to make Utah families the "primary economic unit" of the state.

"We encourage a strong family structure," said Paul Mero, director of the Sutherland Institute. "There is a physics to the family, just like there is for any other structure."

The center will focus on promoting marriage between a man and woman, upholding what the Sutherland Institute calls the "moral culture and local community standards" and working toward eliminating no-fault divorce.

"We know there is a social and moral cost for divorced families, but now we see there is an economic cost as well," said Bill Duncan, the new director of the center.

The center will continue pushing for lawmakers to pass bills that would codify the center's ideas, including the unpopular idea of eliminating no-fault divorces.

In the past, former Rep. Peggy Wallace, R-West Jordan, ran a bill that would eliminate such divorces. She lost her race in 2006, but is running again this year against Rep. Jim Bird in District 42.

While Mero wants to see more laws encouraging families to stay together, he doesn't want to see the government create a "Family Czar," as Republican presidential nominee John McCain has suggested.

"That's the last thing we need," Mero said. "We need a civil society, but we're not calling for a whole new agency. We want to reduce the influence of such organizations."

smcfarland@sltrib.com