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William Fulton

William Fulton

Columnist

William Fulton is the director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University and the author of Guide to California Planning and The Reluctant Metropolis. Fulton came to Rice from California where he served as the planning director for the City of San Diego. He formerly served as mayor, deputy mayor and a member of the city council in the City of Ventura, Calif.

Once wide open and famous for sprawl, the Texas city is becoming increasingly crowded and expensive.
A revived Small Business Administration is good news for local government.
Environmental regulations have transformed California's economy but it's not always clear if the result was positive.
A pharmaceutical giant bugs out, leaving a struggling town without any of the touted tax benefits or job creation.
Academics still matter, but technical knowledge may matter more.
There is a good lesson in the travails of a mammoth New York agency.
Manufacturing is down even in China. Now what?
When it comes to making loans to local companies, should a city act like a banker or a venture capitalist?
A vibrant local economy needs a good supply of housing for sale at lots of price points. But that's not what's happening right now.
Building a local economy around retirees may seem like the perfect growth formula, but it has its flaws.