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

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.