"Weaning itself off socialist-influenced policies that once brought 400% inflation and 60% income-tax brackets, Israel's economy is now growing despite the international financial slowdown. ... But one Israeli economist is warning that beneath Israel's back-patting lurks a hidden peril--fueled by demographic trends and political choices--that could eventually mean an end to the country. ... According to [Dan] Ben-David, nearly one in five Israeli men between 35 and 54--a group that he believes has 'no excuse' for not working--are not part of the labor force. That's about 60% higher than the average among nations in the [OECD], an international forum fostering market-based economies that Israel joined Monday. ... Nearly 27% of Arab men and 65% of ultra-Orthodox Jews don't work, government figures show, The non-employment rate for ultra-Orthodox men has tripled since 1970, Ben-David says. ... What worries Ben-David most is that the nonproductive part of Israel's population, which survives largely on welfare, is also growing the fastest. Today Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox together make up less than 30% of the population, but they account for nearly half of school-age children. ... 'Eventually it's going to break the bank,' the economist said. 'We're on trajectories that are not sustainable.' ... A radio talk-show host recently described ultra-Orthodox Jews as 'parasites.' Tel Aviv's mayor said the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox community was 'endangering' the economic strength of the 'silent majority'," Edmund Sanders at the Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2010, link: http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/topofthetimes/topstories/la-fg-israel-idle-20100511,0,6313284.story.
Did Sanders write this because "LA Times" management would not let him write of Hispanic immigration's economic effects on California? The ultra-orthodox Jews, haredim, are pejoratively called cockroaches in Israel. They do not work and produce families of 6-8 children, supported by the Israeli state. This trend, if unchecked may destroy Israel long before Iran can. It's ironic that Europe imported Moslems to increase its welfare recipients.
2 comments:
Israel's type of political economy works until the domestic and immigrant population receiving assistance gets too large or money printing doesn't prop up the system...
Doesn't most destruction come from within?
California has a big issue to face and it grows and grows...
Arizona's law is harsh but they won't keep drifting along on an unsustainable path... ignoring the problem of illegals wont make them go away...
Long-term destruction may come from within, yes.
But in the short-term, the focus has to be on the survival of Israel and keeping the nukes out of Iranian hands.
In this instance, life depends more upon security than economics.
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