OECD
Israeli-media coverage mentioning OECD, translated into English and compared across sources. 48 recent stories.
Economic Deep State in Israel Drives High Living Costs Through Regulation and Market Concentration
Professor Moshe Cohen-Eliyahu reveals that Israel's high living costs stem from an entrenched economic deep state of regulation, market concentration, and interest groups. This sy…
Israel Faces Massive Security Budget Gap Amid Political and Economic Challenges
Israel's defense budget demand for 2026 has surged to 183 billion shekels, far above the approved 112 billion, driven by expanded military responsibilities and equipment needs. Po…
Early Childhood Education Faces Severe Staff Shortages, Thousands of Infants Denied Subsidized Care
Israel's early childhood education sector faces a critical shortage of 3,500-4,000 caregivers, leaving over 20,000 infants without subsidized daycare this year. The caregiver-to-i…
Removing Tuna Can Tariffs Cuts Consumer Prices by Only 1.1% in Israel
Israel's removal of import tariffs on tuna cans has led to only a slight 1.1% decrease in consumer prices, with market concentration remaining high and local production declining…
Rising Income Inequality in Israel Risks Social Unrest Amid War and Economic Strain
A 2026 Adva Center report warns that Israel’s rising income inequality and underfunded public services amid ongoing war and economic pressures risk social unrest and welfare state…
Children Engage in Digital Economy Early, But Schools Lag Behind in Financial Education
Children today engage with digital money from a young age, using apps and digital wallets without fully understanding financial concepts. While many countries introduce financial…
Jonathan Tzvikel Appointed New Legal Advisor of Israel's Competition Authority
Jonathan Tzvikel has been appointed as the new legal advisor of Israel's Competition Authority, replacing Yael Sheinin. Tzvikel has extensive experience within the authority and w…
MK Bitan’s Claim on OECD Food VAT Rates Is Inaccurate, Experts Say
MK David Bitan proposed reducing Israel’s VAT on basic food to 8%, claiming OECD countries have similar rates. However, only half of OECD countries have VAT rates that low on food…
Israel Faces Severe Midwife Shortage Impacting Maternal and Infant Care
Israel faces a critical shortage of midwives, with a 20% deficit in staffing leading to compromised care for mothers and newborns. Despite 150 new midwives graduating annually, in…
Israel Faces Waste Crisis Amidst Government Disputes Over New National Waste Authority
Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Finance are locked in disputes over establishing a national waste authority, delaying critical waste treatment projec…
Israeli Supreme Court Rules Professionals Must Verify AI Outputs, Not Blame Technology for Errors
The Israeli Supreme Court ruled that professionals must verify AI-generated information and cannot blame AI for errors, emphasizing individual responsibility. With 57% of Israeli…
Israel Rises to Second Most Expensive Country in Big Mac Index Amid High Living Costs
Israel climbed to second place worldwide in The Economist's Big Mac Index, reflecting high food and living costs driven by regulation and limited competition. Economic analyst Rik…
Israeli Salaries Vary Widely by Sector Despite Long Working Hours and Limited Vacation
In Israel, significant wage disparities exist across sectors, with the electricity supply sector leading in pay. Israelis work longer hours and have fewer vacation days than OECD…
Israeli Workers Earn Less Than Average Amid Long Hours and Sector Disparities
Data from early 2025 shows Israeli workers face wide wage gaps across sectors, with electricity and high-tech paying the most. Israelis work longer hours and have fewer vacation d…
Intel Engineer Pioneers Arab Inclusion in Israeli High-Tech Amid Industry Challenges
Fadi Abud, a senior Arab engineer at Intel from Nazareth, leads global processor development while championing Arab inclusion in Israeli high-tech. Overcoming early cultural and l…
Arab Media Highlights Key Issues Shaping Israel's October Elections
Ahead of Israel's October elections, key issues include probing the 2023 Hamas attack failures, ultra-Orthodox military service exemptions, and economic challenges. Netanyahu's go…
AI Workforce Orchestrators Emerge as Key Managers in Hybrid Human-AI Workplaces
A new managerial role, Workforce Orchestrator, is emerging to oversee hybrid human-AI workforces as AI agents take on complex business tasks. This shift requires redesigning workf…
Bank of Israel Urged to Lower Interest Rates Amid Sharp Inflation Drop
With inflation falling to 1.6%, Israel's economy shows strong resilience despite war and fiscal challenges. Experts call on the Bank of Israel to lower interest rates to support g…
AI Disruption Threatens Israeli Workforce and Economy, Experts Warn
AI-driven changes in Israel's labor market are causing significant unemployment among older workers, with inadequate government training programs exacerbating the issue. Experts w…
Saudi Arabia Leads Global Tourism Surge While Israel Sees Sharpest Decline
Between 2019 and 2025, Saudi Arabia leads global tourism growth with a 67% increase, driven by Vision 2030 reforms. In contrast, Israel suffers a 71% drop in international visitor…
Israel Drops From 3rd to 20th in OECD Academic Attainment Rankings
Israel has fallen from 3rd to 20th place in OECD rankings for academic degree attainment among young adults, due to slower growth and persistent educational disparities among popu…
Democrats Hold Transparent Primaries but Call for Broader Voter Influence in Israel
The Israeli Democratic Party held transparent primaries with 114,000 members voting online to select candidates, a more open process than most parties. However, only a fraction of…
Israel’s 2026 Growth Forecasts Range Between 3.1% and 4.2%, Not 5% as Claimed
Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat claimed a 5% economic growth for 2026, but forecasts from major institutions predict a more moderate 3.1% to 4.2% growth this year, with 5% gro…
Israel’s Finance Ministry Plans to Cut Green Tax Benefits, Raising Plug-In Vehicle Prices from 2027
Israel’s Finance Ministry plans to revise the pollution formula for green tax benefits starting in 2027, reducing subsidies for plug-in hybrid vehicles. This change responds to ri…
Israel Faces Challenges in Fully Implementing Long School Day Law Amid Criticism
Israel’s Long School Day law, enacted in 1997 to extend learning hours and reduce educational gaps, remains only partially implemented due to high costs and mixed results. Critics…
Israel’s Environmental Sustainability Declines Despite Some Improvements, New Report Shows
Israel’s 2024 Sustainability Capital Index report reveals significant environmental degradation despite some improvements, highlighting declines in biodiversity, persistent air po…
Israeli Social Security Deputy CEO Denies Families Exploit Autism Benefits Amid Rising Diagnoses
Zvika Cohen, Deputy CEO of Israel's National Insurance Institute, claimed some families seek autism diagnoses mainly to obtain benefits amid rising cases. Families and advocates s…
Israel Considers Revising Autism Support Model Amid Fivefold Increase in Diagnosed Children
Israel faces a fivefold increase in children diagnosed with autism, prompting government review of support systems. Current benefits and services are strained, leading to proposal…
Israel's Public Health System Shows Shorter MRI and Elective Surgery Wait Times Than Other Countries
Israel's Ministry of Health report reveals shorter wait times for MRI scans and selected elective surgeries compared to other OECD countries, despite regional disparities. Major h…
Israel Remains Among Countries With Most Frequent Elections Despite Recent Parliamentary Term Completion
Israel's Knesset completed its full term, but the country remains one of the OECD parliamentary democracies with the most frequent elections, averaging one every 2.5 years. Betwee…
Israeli Finance Ministry Proposes Tax Reforms to Address AI Impact on Jobs and Economy
Israel's Finance Ministry is developing new tax policies to address AI's impact on jobs and the economy, seeking public input on measures like VAT on digital services and increase…
Israel Expands AI-Powered Personalized English Learning to Lead OECD Education Rankings
Israel is expanding its AI-based personalized English learning program to 180 more middle schools, aiming to become a leader in AI-driven education within the OECD. The program no…
Israel's Consumer Confidence Index Signals Economic Sentiment Amid Inflation Concerns
Israel's Consumer Confidence Index fell to -17% in June, indicating increased economic pessimism amid inflation concerns. The index, based on monthly OECD-standard surveys, helps…
Adva Center Report Reveals Growing Income Inequality and Public Service Decline in Israel
The Adva Center's 2026 report reveals growing income inequality in Israel, with the richest earning over 13 times more than the poorest, alongside declining public services and a…
IMF Warns of Israeli Real Estate Crisis and Rising Defense Budget Amid Strong Tech Sector Growth
Israel's high-tech sector shows remarkable growth with $7.6 billion raised in early 2026, boosting exports despite regional conflicts. The IMF praises Israel's economic resilience…
Israeli Economist Prof. Asaf Razin Dies at 85 After Influential Career
Prof. Asaf Razin, a prominent Israeli economist and former government advisor, died at 85. He warned against hyperinflation in the 1980s and later advised major central banks worl…
Israel’s High-Tech Boom Fails to Boost Overall National Productivity
Israel leads in global tech innovation and invests heavily in R&D, yet its overall labor productivity remains below developed countries' average, with minimal improvement over 25…
Northern Israel Advances Polluting Landfill Expansion Despite Waste Revolution Plans
Northern Israel's authorities are advancing a major expansion of the Ablaim North landfill, despite Environment Minister Idit Silman's waste revolution plans. The expansion could…
Bank of Israel Governor Warns Disregarding Supreme Court Rulings Harms Economy Amid Growth Risks
The Bank of Israel cut interest rates to 3.5% amid stable inflation but warned that Israel's growth relies heavily on a few global firms and stressed that ignoring Supreme Court r…
Israeli Government's Delay of Network 13 Sale Raises Concerns for Foreign Tech Investors
The Israeli government's attempt to delay the private sale of Network 13 to prominent high-tech investors highlights risks of politicizing private investments, threatening foreign…
Israeli Economy Shows Resilience Amid War, Credit Due to Finance Minister Smotrich
Despite initial warnings of economic collapse under Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during Israel’s war, the economy has remained resilient with stable labor markets and growth…
South Korea's AI Boom Boosts Retail and Stock Market but Masks Deep Social Crisis
South Korea's AI-driven economic boom has boosted retail sales and stock prices, fueled by domestic wealth effects and increased Chinese tourism. However, this growth masks a seve…
Former Israeli Education Minister Warns of Deepening Crisis and Inequality in Education System
Former Israeli Education Minister Yuli Tamir warns that the education system faces deep instability with teacher shortages, unprepared schools, and growing inequality between weal…
Acting National Insurance CEO Sparks Outrage Over Autism Benefit Comments in Israel
Zvika Cohen, acting CEO of Israel's National Insurance Institute, sparked outrage after claiming the rise in autism diagnoses is partly due to financial incentives from disability…
Israeli Fathers Can Double Paternity Leave and Receive Extra Pay Through National Insurance Benefit
Israel offers a little-known "parallel leave" benefit allowing fathers to extend paternity leave by one week alongside the mother without reducing her leave, often increasing fami…
Israeli Health Ministry Reports Mixed Results on Hospital-Acquired Infections in 2025
In 2025, Israeli hospitals reported around 4,000 hospital-acquired infections, with some large hospitals showing high bloodstream infection rates. The Ministry of Health's nationa…
Netanyahu Highlights Housing Price Drop Amid Rising Rents and Economic Growth
Prime Minister Netanyahu highlighted a rare drop in Israeli housing prices amid rising rents and economic growth. While home prices fell due to high interest rates and increased c…
IMF Warns Israel’s Deficit Will Exceed Budget, Debt Ratio to Surge Due to Security Costs
The IMF forecasts Israel’s government deficit will exceed budget estimates, reaching 5.3% of GDP this year, with debt rising to 74% within four years due to high defense spending…