Oklahoma\u2019s economy should continue to grow, but the expansion could be restrained by the price of natural gas and oil, Oklahoma State University economist and professor Dan Rickman said Tuesday.<\/p>
Rickman spoke at the 2012 Oklahoma Economic Outlook Conference, which was hosted by OSU\u2019s Spears School of Business. The full text of the economic forecasts are available here<\/a>.<\/p> The size of the state\u2019s energy sector has helped drive its economy faster than other states, Rickman said, reported<\/a> The Oklahoman<\/em>\u2019s Don Mecoy:<\/em><\/p>\n The state’s moderate economic expansion should mirror that of the nation’s until about the end of 2012, he said.<\/p><\/blockquote> From KOSU\u2019s Michael Cross<\/a>:<\/em><\/p>\n In fact, energy production is running about the same percentage of Oklahoma GDP as it was in the late 70s and early 80s during the oil boom.<\/p><\/blockquote> Rickman predicted a stronger global economy will boost oil demand in 2013, according to The Oklahoman<\/em>:<\/em><\/p>\n \u2026 we’ll see energy prices starting to become stronger,\u201d which also would strengthen Oklahoma’s economic growth, he said.<\/p><\/blockquote> <\/em>Poverty in Oklahoma is at a 10-year high<\/a>, but incomes in Oklahoma are on the rise, reported KGOU\u2019s Kurt Gwartney. Rickman said migration to Oklahoma might explain the poverty\/income disparity:<\/em><\/p>\n