Is Oklahoma OK? Sooner State ranks just ‘fair-to-middlin’ in cost-benefit study


OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma state Legislature is using cost-benefit analysis to guide only a small portion of its fiscal decisions, a new study from the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Results First initiative concludes. 

The new analysis,  conducted with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, looks at the use of cost-benefit studies in Legislatures across America, and draws conclusions on whether or not legislators are using data in policy development. 

In contrast to Oklahoma’s modest showing, neighboring Kansas landed in the nation’s top 10 for application of cost-benefit analysis to policymaking.

Pew’s other top 10 states were Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 

Travis Perry of Kansas Watchdog reported Tuesday, “During the time period the study examined (2008-2011), Kansas tied for fourth-place in terms of total cost-benefit studies. Washington state led the way with 23 such studies, followed by California with 19 and Missouri with 17. Kansas clocked 16 in total, alongside North Carolina and Ohio.”

In the Pew analysis, Oklahoma was credited for using cost-benefit studies for five areas of governance. The Sooner State performance merited a “mixed rating,” as one of 30 states and the District of Columbia trailing the top 10 states. A total of 11 states were listed as “trailing behind,” the Pew study concluded.

You may contact Patrick B. McGuigan at Patrick@capitolbeatok.com and follow us on Twitter: @capitolbeatok.