"Engineering a successful transition out of deflation is one of the most challenging aspects of monetary policy, but the Bank of Japan just might be able to do it this time."

After many years of false starts, the Japanese economy may finally be set to boom—or at least to enter a period of sustained growth with a sharply rising stock market.

Can our slow-growing and debt-ridden economy "afford" to limit future spending on health care? Health-sector boosters point to the industry's long record of creating more jobs and growing faster than the rest of the economy. But a number of recent warning signs indicate what cannot go on forever will not, and a rebalancing of our future spending patterns might be good economic medicine.

Just a year after the BP oil spill, America is on the verge of a new golden era of oil exploration and production -- unless President Obama and his environmentalist friends get their way.

Government attempts at decreasing American dependence on foreign oil have been largely unsuccessful. However, a new energy alternative from the private sector has increased energy supply and reduced the need to look abroad for energy sources.

While economic downturns can be frightening and difficult, people living in free market economies enjoy greater health, better access to basic necessities, better education, work less arduous jobs, and have more choices and wider horizons than people at any other point in history.

By maintaining a focus on encouraging domestic natural gas production, we can make the United States more energy independent, minimize the environmental impact of producing energy and foster economic and job growth.

China's aggressive attempts to maintain an 8 percent growth rate carry substantial risks.