Israel

How to improve Israel’s health-care system

Israelis enjoy higher life expectancy and have a much younger demographic profile than most OECD countries. However, the demand for health care is expanding rapidly due to population growth and ageing.

How to improve taxes and transfers in Israel

Ensuring tax and transfer systems bring sufficient revenue to reach macroeconomic fiscal targets, address societal goals in re-distribution and social welfare, recognise the influence taxation has on businesses’ competitiveness and adequately address environmental externalities is a tough challenge, arguably more so in Israel than in many other OECD countries.

OECD Central Government Debt Statistics 2012

Addressing challenges in the energy sector in Israel

Offshore natural gas discoveries have released Israel from complete reliance on imported primary fuels and are allowing for a cleaner energy mix.

How to improve the economic policy framework for the housing market in Israel

Israeli house prices have risen by over 50% over the past three years. In part this reflects the fact that for several years housing construction had not kept pace with increases in the number of households.

Issues in private sector finance in Israel

The 2008-09 global financial crisis did not result in the failure of any major financial institution in Israel, but it did reveal vulnerabilities in the non banking sector – particularly in the corporate bond market.

Policy Options for Reducing Poverty and Raising Employment Rates in Israel

Despite some best-practice policies, challenges remain in raising employment and lowering poverty, particularly among Arab-Israeli and Ultra-orthodox households, as discussed in this working paper.

Israel: Monetary and Fiscal Policy

Monetary policy and inflation prospects are broadly sound in Israel, but significant challenges remain for fiscal policy in reducing public debt, as discussed in this working paper.

Israeli Education Policy: How to Move Ahead in Reform

Israel’s education system produces many tertiary graduates but there are wide gaps across society and core skills at secondary school are weak, as discussed in this working paper.