2012 looks to be an interesting year for the already complex political triangle among the United States, Taiwan and China, what with each country undergoing political transitions. Should we expect policy continuity from President Ma Ying-jeou and the likely new Chinese leader Xi Jinping? What about continuity in the United States?

If the nation truly wants to address the wild roller coaster of price swings, it's important to understand the factors that affect prices.

In 2011, the Government Mortgage Complex accounted for 88 percent of all first-mortgage originations in the United States, with the government also controlling an estimated 90 percent of the student loan market. The government’s growing dominance in the home mortgage and student loan categories is cause for concern, posing a threat to private investors, borrowers, and taxpayers.

Failures in the regulation of large complex financial institutions played an important role in the financial crisis.

Health care reform, financial reform, and the Consumer Protection Act have made it difficult for businesses to predict their future costs. The uncertainties associated with these acts have led to reluctance on the part of businesses to hire or to invest in long-term assets.

The Cold War is an increasingly distant memory in American military minds, except in the minds of the arms control community, and in particular those who seek the elimination of nuclear weapons. Alas, our president is a member in good standing of this community—indeed, an organizer.So, too, it...

As policymakers continue their efforts to reduce the government’s role in the currently nationalized housing market, the broadly available and deep subsidies provided to the five divisions of the Government Mortgage Complex continue to distort the marketplace and thwart these efforts.

The "Restoring American Financial Stability Act" (The Dodd bill) that will be debated in the Senate attempts to limit the ability of the government or government agencies to protect stakeholders at failed large complex financial institutions from sharing in the losses suffered by the institution.