Informing
Policy
for Progress

December 2014

Tel Aviv white elephant

Shlomo Maital

The ‘New’ Central Bus Station languishes in semi-neglect, a strange, partly unseen, humming underworld of activity.

 This is the story of an enormous white elephant in south Tel Aviv, the New Central Bus Station. However, it is neither new – it is now a half-century old – nor central.

December 2014

Oil price reductions should not make us too complacent

Ofira Ayalon

OPEC, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, decided last week not to reduce oil production. This means, in a world of supply and demand, falling prices. Why such decision was made? It can be assumed that the decision, in part, was made to reduce the profitability of gas production from gas shale in the US and to “put to sleep” the Americans in their bid to become energy self-productive. In Israel, as well, one cannot ignore the need to become more energy efficient and promote more renewable energy into the market.

November 2014

Israel, by the numbers

Shlomo Maital

According to the statistics, Israel is quite well off, fairly cheerful, healthy, and great place to live and raise children.

October 2014

Not to lower the price of electricity

Ofira Ayalon

In an era of oppressive living cost, in an era of social protest and a call from the middle class to reduce prices, Prof. Ayalon suggests and explains why a reduction in  the price of electricity is a wrong decision.

October 2014

The dismal science meets the shrinks

Shlomo Maital

WHAT HAPPENS when economics, known for over two centuries as the dismal science, meets psychology, whose practitioners often called “shrinks”?

Economics become a whole lot less dismal and a great deal more useful and interesting.

October 2014

The way to integrate the Haredim

Reuven Gal

There is no choice. The assumed tolerable status quo must change. Israel must address the integration of Haredim to society in the same way she addressed the mass immigration waves. A strategig decision must be made to establish a coordinating body and harness all the government offices for the operation, while granting the lifestyle and characteristics of the Ultra-Orthodox community, and without trying to change their beliefs.

October 2014

Atop Mt. Intel

Shlomo Maital

David Perlmutter, who rose to become the most senior Israeli corporate executive, shares his insights on implementing radical innovation at very big companies.

October 2014

The battle of the budget

Shlomo Maital

Who will pay for the Gaza war? A three-way conflict between security, social and fiscal considerations. A Netanyahu-Lapid compromise leaves taxes unchanged for the 2015 budget and defines added defense spending as “one-time only”.

September 2014

Start-up Nation’s dark side

Shlomo Maital

Israel may top the tables in innovation, but the benefits need to be more widely diffused.

September 2014

Garbage bags aren’t the reason for pollution in Israel

Ofira Ayalon

Plastic carrier bags are a popular theme in Israel since 2007, without justification – the damage they are causing is far less significant than perceived. Legislation is also unnecessary, the use of plastic bags can be significantly reduced by education and the cooperation of retail chains.