Budget and Economy
Central Government Transfers to the Settlements Still Higher than to Localities Within the Green Line
This new Adva Center report is the update for 2009 of a periodical documenting inequality in the financing of municipal budgets in Israel. It compares four groups of localities: (1) “Forum-15” cities – the 15 local authorities whose budgets are balanced and thus have no need of “balancing grants” from the central government; Jewish development … Continue reading Central Government Transfers to the Settlements Still Higher than to Localities Within the Green Line
The Rat Race and The March Of Folly
The wave of protests that are splashing over the country represent, first and foremost, the middle class’ recognition – at long last – that it is powerless to hold its own in the mad competition that has been forced upon it: military service involving the loss of three years of income, college studies, the purchase … Continue reading The Rat Race and The March Of Folly
Israel in a Nutshell – A Different Introduction to Present Day Israeli Society and Economy
Israel, established in 1948 and presently (2011) with a population of 7.75 million, has been known at least since 1967 as a strong military power. In the last decade it gained renown for strong economic performance as well and especially for leadership in hi tech research and development. Israel recently joined the prestigious “rich … Continue reading Israel in a Nutshell – A Different Introduction to Present Day Israeli Society and Economy
Workers, Employers and the Distribution of Israel’s National Income Labor Report: 2010
The year 2010 was a good one for the Israeli economy. For employed persons, the best news was that firstly, unemployment decreased from 7.5% in 2009 to 6.6% in 2010, and secondly, the creation of one hundred thousand new jobs (even if 42% of them were part-time jobs). The average salary of employed persons increased … Continue reading Workers, Employers and the Distribution of Israel’s National Income Labor Report: 2010
Israel and the Financial Crisis
Israeli leaders like to congratulate themselves these days on having come out of the world financial crisis only slightly and briefly scratched. GDP growth declined from 4% in 2008 to 0.7% in 2009, but in 2010 it is expected to rise to close to 4%. Unemployment increased from 5.7% in 2007 to 8.0% in 2009, … Continue reading Israel and the Financial Crisis
The Cost of Occupation – The Burden of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 2010 Report
The report analyses the extent of the economic, social, military, political and diplomatic burden of the conflict on Israel. Among the report’s highlights: The prolonged conflict with the Palestinians undermines sustainable economic growth, burdens the budget, limits social development, absorbs most of the energies of the political leadership, calls into question the legitimacy of the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces and isolates Israel internationally. The burden … Continue reading The Cost of Occupation – The Burden of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 2010 Report