Economic Strategy... and all the fun that entitles...

[Obelics]

A few methods I use if I want to stop growth is to keep taxes on very high for as long as I can. Less takes the more growth. Another method is to NEVER build farms. If I need population I'll build those farms that give more tradable goods as well. Get more money that way AND you can knock the thing down if growth gets too high.

I use the same system, i always try to set my taxes on very hight, it seems towns get less squallor, i use to build thinks like farms, granary, and build that make to grow your population, only if im sure i can manage the growt, i built Estates and Great Estates only at the end, when i have built almost all the buildings, and my town have +3, +4 icons of puclic order (generally doing in such mode, the town have a lot of public order, so i can allow to build Estates)

@eadingas if you have problem of pop growt too low, just recruit mercenary (if you have the moneys), i suggest mercenary pezetaroi (there are a lot in the sud italy), and them disband them in your town, you will give a bost to your growt. Also if you have a town too overpopulated, just recruit a lot of akonistai (240 men!) and disband in a town that has too low population...
Akonistai are very cheap to recruit and they are a lot!