A new index, The Better Life Initiative, shows that in some areas much is lacking [in Israel] compared to other OECD countries. Since facts are such an integral part of creating an effective problem statement for grant proposals, here are some statistics that might be useful:
- Housing: 4.4% of dwellings in Israel lack private access to indoor toilets, in contrast to the OECD average of 2.5%.
- Income: Average household disposable income in Israel - after taxes - is $19,456, which is lower than the OECD average of $22,284.
- Poverty: Israel has second highest income poverty rate in the OECD, coming in only behind Mexico. One in five - 20% - of Israelis qualify as living in poverty. 39% of Israelis "find it difficult or very difficult to live on their current income," a much higher rate than the OEDC average 24%.
- Employment: 59% of working-age (15 to 64) Israelis have a paid job, lower than the OECD average of 65%.
- Education: Israel scored lower than the average in reading comprehension.
- Fertility Rate: Israel has the highest fertility rate of all countries in the OECD, with an average of 2.96 children per household.
- Health: More Israelis reported negative emotional health status (pain, worry, sadness, stress and depression) than any other country in the OECD. Israel ranked the 6th lowest in the OECD in categories of feeling well-rested, being treated with respect, smiling, and experiencing enjoyment.
- Homicide rate is slightly higher than the OECD average.
- Intolerance: Only 36 percent of Israelis believe that their communities are tolerant places for ethnic minorities, migrants and gays and lesbians, ranking fourth lowest in the OECD and far below the average of 61%.
- Environment : The level of atmospheric PM10 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs, harm human health, and reduce life expectancy – is 28 micrograms per cubic meter, higher than levels found in most OECD countries.
- Immigration: 26.5% of Israel’s population is foreign-born; the OECD average is 11.75%.
Lest I leave you completely depressed Israel DID excel in the following areas:
- When measuring only those participating in the workforce, Israel's unemployment rate is 1.85%; lower than the OECD average.
- Compared to an OECD average of 73% high school graduation rates, Israel excels with 81% of adults in the labor market possessing the equivalent of a high school degree.
- Asked if they believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, 93% of Israelis answered yes, putting Israel close to the OECD average.
- The average life expectancy in Israel is 81.1 years, exceeding the OECD average 79.3
For a link to the OECD report, click here:
http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/israel/
For a link to the Jerusalem Post summary article click here: For a link to the article, click here:
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=222146
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