Dr. Maimon Dahan, a researcher with the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), found that Israel ranks very low among Western nations in the way it addresses socio-economic needs.
The study, reported on the Globes business news website, found that Israel is second-to-last on the list for child allowance benefits for the first three children in a family. Only Greece has a lower child allowance among Western nations.
Israel also has the lowest maximum number of days for unemployment insurance eligibility. Benefits in Israel continue only up to a ceiling of 175 days. Length of benefit eligibility in other countries ranged from a low of 270 days in Italy, to 1,800 days in the Netherlands.
The study was prepared for presentation at the IDI Annual Economic Conference, also referred to as the Caesarea Conference, scheduled for next month.
Ministry of Finance Director-General Dr. Joseph Bachar said, in response to the findings, that economic conditions in Israel at present are good, “except for social issues.” He warned that it is "very easy to ruin policy and waste the budget."
Bachar added that it would be better to use revenue surpluses to cut taxes and reduce the debt Israel owes to other countries. “Investment in social services should only be made in the long term,” he said, “when there is a real surplus.”
David Brodet, economic director for this year’s conference and a former director-general of the Ministry of Finance, said, in contrast, that Israel should improve its way of dealing with social problems, including poverty. He pointed out that the Israeli government has focused its efforts solely on economic growth for the past three years and that it is now time for a change.
The study, reported on the Globes business news website, found that Israel is second-to-last on the list for child allowance benefits for the first three children in a family. Only Greece has a lower child allowance among Western nations.
Israel also has the lowest maximum number of days for unemployment insurance eligibility. Benefits in Israel continue only up to a ceiling of 175 days. Length of benefit eligibility in other countries ranged from a low of 270 days in Italy, to 1,800 days in the Netherlands.
The study was prepared for presentation at the IDI Annual Economic Conference, also referred to as the Caesarea Conference, scheduled for next month.
Ministry of Finance Director-General Dr. Joseph Bachar said, in response to the findings, that economic conditions in Israel at present are good, “except for social issues.” He warned that it is "very easy to ruin policy and waste the budget."
Bachar added that it would be better to use revenue surpluses to cut taxes and reduce the debt Israel owes to other countries. “Investment in social services should only be made in the long term,” he said, “when there is a real surplus.”
David Brodet, economic director for this year’s conference and a former director-general of the Ministry of Finance, said, in contrast, that Israel should improve its way of dealing with social problems, including poverty. He pointed out that the Israeli government has focused its efforts solely on economic growth for the past three years and that it is now time for a change.