Hope springs eternal among policy makers in Europe’s beleaguered periphery. At five minutes to midnight in Athens, and with a bank run having started in Madrid, these policy makers cling to the forlorn hope that somehow Germany is going to relent on its strong opposition to euro bonds.

America's version of capitalism has been much more dynamic than Europe's. Why don't Obama and Romney debate that?

We are not in a cold war with China. That is too simple a metaphor to describe the state of Sino-American relations.

No, the government shouldn’t eliminate tax breaks for private universities.

Does Romney still need to appeal to conservative Republicans, or should he start focusing on the broader electorate?

It’s the beauty part of free-market capitalism: To successfully pursue happiness, you must help others do likewise.

What does this election mean for Russia’s relations with the United States?

The push for President Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act sparked one of the most acrimonious policy debates in American history. Two years later, the misconceptions distorting the debate persist. That's what makes the arrival of Christopher J. Conover's new book, "American Health Economy Illustrated," so valuable.