Why is Poverty Widespread in Israel?
Caesarea Economic Forum 2006
- Written By: David Brodet
- Publication Date:
- Cover Type: Softcover
- Number Of Pages: 144 Pages
- Center: Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society
- Price: 60 NIS
An examination of the changes that have taken place in Israel in three major areas—family, employment status, and government intervention—and of the impact of the unique composition of the country’s population on poverty levels, which includes recommendations for reducing poverty in Israel.
Why is the poverty rate in Israel so high by international standards? Why has it risen sharply in the last decade? This report, prepared by a team headed by Dr. Momi Dahan in advance of the 2006 Caesarea Economic Policy Planning Forum, addresses these two questions by examining the changes in Israel over the years in three important institutions: the family, the work place, and the government. The analysis of the reasons for poverty pays special attention to the influence of Israel’s unique population mix on the scale of poverty: an unusually large percentage of the Israeli population are Muslim, as compared to the Western world; the ultra-Orthodox sector, which leads a unique way of life, and a high proportion of immigrants. The report goes beyond analyzing the sources of poverty and also suggests steps to reduce poverty in Israel.