Prosperity bound: Oklahoma-100 years and counting

Abstract

Oklahoma's 100 year state history reflects an inconsistent economic prosperity. We seem caught in an endless cycle of Boom and Bust; never quite breaking free into substantial, sustainable growth. Given the state's diversity in material and human resources, the question explored in this essay is, "Why?" Building on Richard Hofstadter's pioneering chronicle of Anti-intellectualism in American Life, the hypothesis examined here suggests that religious fundamentalism and evangelicalism combine with political populism to foster an anti-intellectual environment in Oklahoma which is not conducive to solving long-term economic challenges. The dominant traditionalistic and individualistic political cultures these denominational imbalances carry with them sustain this cyclic status quo. Correlation analysis of county level religious, political, economic, and demographic data shows support for the hypothesis.