| The
Division for Economic Policy Research was established in
1989 with the release of its first Policy Studies paper.
It has published dozens of studies on such economic
policy issues as taxes, land use, housing,
transportation, water, health care, agriculture, small
business regulation, and the Internet, to name a few.
The
Division posts several hundred brief articles on the
Institute's web site every year providing background and
analysis of current events reported in the Israeli and
international media.
The work of the Division rests on a simple
notion, namely, that ordinary Israelis should enjoy the
same freedom and opportunity that is available to U.S.
residents and those of other free economies. This
objective requires that state control and direction of
Israel's socialist economy give way to free markets and
limited government. Among other measures, the state
should sell off its massive landholdings, taxes and
public spending should be cut, regulations should be
trimmed, monopolies and cartels should be broken up,
competition should be permitted in every line of
productive activity, and so forth. Most importantly,
foreign aid, which enables Israel's government to
maintain tight control over the economy, should be
terminated.
The Division augments its work by training
a new generation of Israeli economists. Institute Fellows
assist Knesset Members with economic research, and help
develop economic reform policies based on their
research. As part of their activities, the Fellows spend
a month in Washington, serving as research assistants to
Members of
Congress. |
