Drilling roughnecks, photo credit National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Where Small Town America Is Thriving

by Joel Kotkin and Mark Schill — Big city America has long demonstrated a distaste for its smaller cousins. While many of these smaller communities are in demographic decline as the ambitious young go elsewhere, smaller communities are far more diverse --- and have far greater potential -- than is commonly believed.
Repairs on Mulholland Drive

Trump’s Infrastructure Plan is a Rare, and Potentially Bipartisan, Feel Good Moment

President Trump's proposed trillion dollar plus infrastructure program represents a rare, and potentially united feel good moment. Yet before we jump into a massive re-do of our transportation, water and electrical systems, it's critical to make sure we get some decent bang for the federal buck.
Bricktown Canal Water Taxis in Oklahoma City

Local Empowerment Should Be About Local Matters

I've generally been someone who wants to see local governments…
Divided Nation

To Reunite America, Liberate Cities to Govern Themselves

by Joel Kotkin and Richard Florida Even setting the dysfunction of our national government, the fact is that no top-down, one-size-fits-all set of policies can address the very different conditions that prevail among communities.
Capitol Dome at dusk

Decentralize Government to Resolve Country’s Divisions

by Joel Kotkin America is increasingly a nation haunted by fears of looming dictatorship. Whether under President Barack Obama’s “pen and phone” rule, or...Read more

Opportunity Urbanism: A Novel Idea For U.S. Cities

By Scott Beyer... As the U.S. grows more urban and diverse,…

THE EMERGING NEW ASPIRATIONAL SUBURB

by Aaron M. Renn Urban form in American cities is in…

GO EAST, YOUNG SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WORKERS

by Joel Kotkin 02/09/2015 Do the middle class and working…

ROADMAP TO SURPRISES OF THE RUSTBELT

by Matthew Stevenson 01/23/2015 Back in New York, no one…

RALEIGH: SUBURBANIZING THE CITY AND SUBURBS

by Wendell Cox 03/02/2011... New 2010 Census results indicate…