Annual conference 2022

Between Vision and Reality – The Economic Path to Growth and Poverty Reduction ( in the picture Prof. Ben Bernanke in conversation with Prof. Martin Eichenbaum )

Aaron Institute’s 7th annual conference, titled “Between Vision and Reality – The Economic Path to Growth and Poverty Reduction”, featured government ministers, members of Knesset, senior policy makers from government offices, prominent business leaders, and economists from Israel and worldwide.

Conference Topics

Can the Israeli economy rely solely on the high-tech engine?
Have we reached the end of the era of low interest rates?
Would it be sensible to decrease debt-to-GDP ratio?
Are investments in core infrastructures the path to prosperity?

How should the next leap of the Israeli economy be funded – debt or taxes?
Why is the high-tech nation lagging behind on digitalization?
Will the Five-Year Plan for Israel’s Arab society finally bring change?

Conference Moderator: Prof. Omer Moav, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy Conference Chair, Reichman University

Plan for the Conference Opening Evening

Prof. Rafi Melnick, Reichman University President

Prof. Ben Bernanke, former Chair of the US Federal Reserve and of the Council of Economic Advisers to the US President, in conversation with Prof. Martin Eichenbaum, Northwestern University: “World Economy”

Prof. Amir Yaron, Bank of Israel Governor: “Israeli Economy and the Financial System”.

Mr. Shlomo Dovrat, Founder and General Partner at Viola Ventures and Chair of Aaron Institute for Economic Policy: “Growth Barriers and Social Mobility”

Prof. Zvi Eckstein, Dean of Tiomkin Economics School and Head of Aaron Institute for Economic Policy, Reichman University: “Summary of the Institute’s Work”

Prof. Omer Moav, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy Conference Chair: Summary of the evening

Speech by The Minister of Economy and Industry, Ms. Orna Barbivai

Plan for Conference Day

A Five-Year Plan for Israel’s Arab society – Will It Finally Work This Time?

MK Mansour Abbas, Head of The United Arab List (Ra’am), Deputy Knesset Speaker, and Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Arab Society Affairs: “Politics and the Five-Year Plan”

Dr. Marian Tehawkho, Head of the Center for Economic Policy for the Israeli Arab Society, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy, Reichman University: “Strategy for Economic Advancement of Israel’s Arab Society”.

Mr. Meir Bing, Director General of the Ministry for Social Equality: “How is the Five-Year Plan Implemented?”.

Panel discussion moderated by Ms. Susan Hasan, Deputy CEO of JDC Israel – TEVET: “How Can It Succeed This Time?”

Participants:

Ms. Yulia Eitan, Head of the Employment Administration for Special Populations, Labor Branch, Ministry of Economy and Industry;

Attorney Mudar Younes, Mayor of Ar’ara and Chair of the National Committee of the Heads of the Arab Local Authorities in Israel;

Mr. Imad Telhami, social and business entrepreneur, Founder and Chair of Babcom Centers LTD

Open Plenary Discussion – Initial Speakers:

Dr Safa Aburabia, Director of Arab Community Programme at Yad Hanadiv;

Attorney Rani Haj-Yahia, lawyer and social entrepreneur;

Mr. Dadi Perlmutter, Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Team for Increasing Human Capital in the High-Tech Industry; former Executive Vice President of Intel Corp.

Session summary by Prof. Omer Moav, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy Conference Chair

Infrastructures, Public Debt, and Growth

Prof. Zvi Eckstein, Dean of Tiomkin Economics School and Head of Aaron Institute for Economic Policy, Reichman University: “Reforms for Growth and Poverty Reduction”.

Prof. Martin Eichenbaum, Northwestern University: “Israel’s Fiscal Prospects on the Post-Covid Era”.

Mr. Ram Belinkov, Director General of the Finance Ministry, in conversation with Prof. Omer Moav, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy Conference Chair: “Finance Ministry’s Policy vis-á-vis Economists’ Recommendations”

Panel discussion moderated by Ms. Anath Levin, CEO of BlackRock Israel: “From Academic Discussion to a Feasible Reality”

Participants:

Mr. Yarom Ariav, former Director General of the Finance Ministry; Chair of the Executive Committee at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev;

Ms. Michal Cohen, Director General of the Rashi Foundation;

Mr. Dan Proper, Chair of Osem-Nestle Group

Open Plenary Discussion – Initial Speakers:

Dr. Samer Haj Yehia, Chair of the Board at Bank Leumi BM;

Prof. Rafi Melnick, Reichman University President;

Attorney Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, Chair of Israel Export Institute and former MK;

Mr. Eli Paley, Chair of The Haredi Institute for Public Affairs. Discussion summary,

Accountant Yali Rothenberg, General Accountant at the Finance Ministry

Session summary by Prof. Omer Moav, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy Conference Chair

Growth-Enhancing Reforms

Mr. Yogev Gardos, Budget Director at the Ministry of Finance: “Major Reforms in the 2023 State Budget”.

Dr. Hila Axelrad, Senior Researcher at the Aaron Institute: “Promoting Digital Transformation”.

Panel discussion moderated by Mr. Ronen Nir, venture capital investor: “Innovation as an Engine for Labor Productivity”

Participants:

Ms. Hila Hadad, Director General of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology

Ms. Shira Lev Ami, CEO of the National Digital Agency, Ministry of Economy and Industry

Mr. Or Offer, CEO of SimilarWeb Ltd

Open Plenary Discussion – Initial Speakers:

Ms. Inbar Almagor, Head of Digitization Department, JDC Elka;

Mr. Israel Danziger, High-Tech entrepreneur and CEO; former Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection; Aaron Institute partner in promoting digital transformation;

Mr. Amir Reshef, Deputy Budget Director, Ministry of Finance

Session summary by Prof. Omer Moav, Aaron Institute for Economic Policy Conference Chair

Speech by The Minister of Finance, Mr. Avigdor Lieberman