OECD Economic Surveys
Series: OECD Economic Surveys; OECD Economic Surveys
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Paris
Language: eng
Number of pages: 114
ISBN-13: 9789264183193; 9789264206991; 9789264207059; 9789264206984; 9789264207042; 9789264206724; 9789264206953; 9789264206977; 9789264206960; 9789264206946; 9789264206717; 9789264208209; 9789264209350; 9789264206915; 9789264207011; 9789264206939; 9789264207066; 9789264206793; 9789264206922; 9789264206908; 9789264207004; 9789264113572; 9789264219564; 9789264183186
Subjects: Economic conditions; Economic policy; Economic history; Business & Economics; Economic History
Description: OECD's 2013 Economic Survey of Israel examines recent economic developments, prospects and policies. Special chapters cover health care and the tax and transfer system.
Notes: Welcome reductions in the taxation of specific consumer durables and food items.

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters.
Table of contents: title: Table of contents; Basic statistics of Israel, 2012; Executive summary; Assessment and recommendations; Growth remains relatively strong; Figure 1. Output performance has weakened but remains better than in many other economies; Table 1. Macroeconomic indicators and projections; Box 1. A substantial upward revision in the level of GDP; Figure 2. Inflation, interest rates and currency developments; Figure 3. Housing market developments; Challenges in long-run productivity performance, poverty and the environment; Figure 4. Core economic challenges for the longer term.; title: Figure 5. Environmental indicatorsFigure 6. The OECD Better Life Index for Israel; Balancing inflation targeting and financial stability objectives is a challenge; Foreign-currency purchases have resumed; Figure 7. Currency developments and foreign exchange reserves; Reasonable progress in strengthening risk provisions and oversight in the financial sector; Box 2. Recommendations on monetary policy and financial-market regulation; Fiscal balances are set to come back on track; Figure 8. Government revenues, expenditure and debt; Figure 9. Deficit outcomes and targets.; title: Figure 10. Fiscal scenarios beyond 2014If further revenue-raising measures are needed, what form should they take?; Spending discipline need to be reinforced; Box 3. Recommendations on fiscal policy; Social policy, education and health care still face difficulties; In education a tougher line on enforcing the core curriculum is planned; Figure 11. Poverty, labour-market and education indicators; Employment and social policies are advancing only slowly, as spending remains small-scale; Some pension settings need reform; A good health-care system, but not without challenges.; title: Figure 12. Healthcare indicatorsBox 4. Recommendations on social policy, education and health care; There has been reasonable progress in improving the business environment; Maintaining an attractive profile of business taxation and effective business support remains crucial; Figure 13. Indicators of business policy; Good progress in strengthening competition; Box 5. Recommendations on the business environment; Environmental concerns need greater attention; Energy and transport policies could be greener; Issues in water and waste management, and biodiversity.; title: Box 6. Recommendations on environmental policiesBibliography; Annex. Progress with structural reforms; Chapter 1. How to improve taxes and transfers; Notable features of the system; Figure 1.1. Tax revenue and social spending indicators; Key challenges; Background: The recent history of tax and transfer measures; Table 1.1. Key tax and benefit measures since the tent-protests of 2011; Indirect tax; Figure 1.2. Tax on goods and services; Table 1.2. Key features of Israeli indirect tax, 2011; A good system of VAT; Figure 1.3. Value added tax.