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Mission

Israel has the potential to become one of the most successful countries in the world, providing prosperity to most of its citizens. Yet it is still plagued by painful social, economic and political problems, rooted in its socialist-statist system.

ICSEP’s mission is to help Israel realize its enormous potential, by freeing its economy from the shackles of this regressive system.

	Binyamin Netanyahu, former Finance Minister, receiving an economic reform action plan from ICSEP Director Daniel Doron

Many Israeli workers earn about $1200 a month, but prices and taxes in Israel are generally higher than in the US. About 1 million Israeli workers receive supplemental government assistance, and hundreds of thousand of families cannot make ends meet.

Almost one-half of Israel’s $70 billion budget and about one-third of Israel’s GDP are devoted to welfare. World Jewry donates as well. Yet poverty remains widespread and the economy operates well below its potential. The productivity of the talented Israeli worker is about half that of his American counterpart. More welfare is not the answer. Indeed, elements of the welfare system may be responsible for Israel’s sluggish growth, even be part of the problem.

In Israel, economic growth and liberalization are the keys to survival. Only growth will enable Israel to address its social problems, keep its young at home, and meet its defense needs.

ICSEP plays a critical role in providing the know-how needed to fashion, implement and support pro-market structural reforms, and overcome resistance to them.

ICSEP has scored notable successes in generating reform despite a culture that remains dominated by dated ideas that resist and retard reforms, and strong political forces determined to perpetuate a monopoly dominated system.

ICSEP is at the forefront of the struggle to re-educate Israelis and inspire them with market thinking prevalent in the West. It is a leader in the effort to enable Israel to enter a future of growth and prosperity.

Helping ICSEP helps Israel meet the social and security challenges it faces and secure a future of prosperity and growth.

“I feel honor bound to stress that your engagement in our efforts was based on purely professional considerations, and was done without any reward, without any fear and with total devotion. You are indeed a unique phenomenon that can serve as a model and a symbol of what acting in the public interest can be… Together we have managed to introduce very significant changes in the Israeli economy.”
—Dr. Yossie Bachar, Director General, Ministry of Finance