State of competition: How Oklahoma’s cities take the edge off of the state economic development strategy

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Austin Gilley

Abstract

Oklahoma and its cities establish policies and practices to compete for businesses to grow the economy, but a survey of Oklahoma cities reveals a slight, systematic bias in city strategies that might undercut state initiatives to collaboratively focus on higher-paying jobs. Bound primarily by state law to sales-tax revenue, cities appear to target sales-tax generating businesses such as those in the retail and tourism industries- which historically produce lower paying jobs and foster direct competition as opposed to collaboration with nearby locations. The following is an updated excerpt from graduate student research conducted in 2003.

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