The Center for Economic Policy
of the Israeli Arab Society

The Aaron Institute has established The Center for Economic Policy of the Israeli Arab Population with a vision of advancing the manufacturing and business economy in Israeli-Arab population, and enhancing its integration in the Israeli economy.


The center advisory committee is headed by former Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran, and comprises several key figures from various fields in the Arab society. Every year, the advisory committee assembles to decide on the center's research plan, based on outcomes and accumulated knowledge.


This center is part of Aaron Institute's broad economic strategy for the Israeli economy, which aims to achieve sustained growth in GDP and productivity along with reduced poverty and inequality. The focus of the center's activity is promoting government decisions on implementation of long-term economic policies for Israel’s Arab society. In accordance with the program's vision, activity revolves around designing strategies and devising policies in the fields of education, employment and infrastructure, through collaboration with various government departments, and particularly the Ministry of Finance. Policy recommendations include proposals for detailed programs based on up-to-date data regarding the Arab population in Israel, as well as proven economic knowledge acquired nationally and internationally, which takes into consideration existing customs and cultural norms in Israel, including political limitations. Research findings and recommendations are presented at public roundtable discussions held in Arab localities, with participants including Arab and Jewish professionals such as researchers, decision-makers, and senior figures from the business and public sectors.

 

Our collaboration with government departments, especially the Ministry of Finance, makes it possible to expand the program's sphere of influence and to translate its proposals into government decisions with allocated funds, which engender the implementation of long-term policies in various fields.

 

News

  • Advancement of the Arab Society as a Major Growth Engine for the Israeli Economy

    Amit Loewenthal and Tali Larom

    This paper analyzes the growth in Arabs' labor income per individual during the last decade, and presents the potential contribution of scenarios in which the gaps between Arabs and non-Haredi Jews are closed or narrowed.

  • The Pyramid of Growth in Israel’s Arab society

    Marian Tehawkho, Sabaa Jabali-Serhan and Rana Kassis

    This paper presents a measurement framework identifying the strengths and weaknesses underlying gaps in labor income between Arabs and non-Haredi Jews, and the social and economic components necessary for reducing these gaps.

  • Labor Market Challenges Facing Israel’s Arab Society During Normalcy and Emergency

    Marian Tehawkho, Amit Loewenthal, Tali Larom and Ayala Partush

    This study identifies labor market disparities between Arab and Jewish communities, assesses the impact of the war on employment of the Arab society, and provides policy recommendations to address employment challenges and enhance the integration of Arabs into high-quality employment opportunities.

  • The Impact of the War on Israel’s Arab Society and the Necessary Policy Measures

    Marian Tehawkho, Amit Loewenthal and Ayala Partush

    This policy paper underscores the significance of economic resilience in Israel's Arab society and addresses disparities between Jewish and Arab citizens. It proposes measures to enhance economic prospects and trust in government institutions, benefiting both Arab society and Israel overall.

  • Hebrew Language Literacy in the Arab Society: Standards Measures & Assessment

    Marian Tehawkho, Idit Kalisher

    This paper summarizes an initiative by the Authority for the Economic Development of the Minority Sector, aiming to enhance Hebrew studies in Arab society, standardize practices, and implement a consistent assessment method to eliminate proficiency barriers in academia and the labor market.

  • Paving the way to Labor Market Success for Arab Higher Education Graduates

    Marian Tehawkho, Linor Kiknadze, Sergei Sumkin and Ayala Partush

    This paper examines the quality of integration into the labor market of bachelor's degree holders from the Arab society who earned the degree from institutions of higher education in Israel, offers valuable insights for public policy and emphasizes the importance of increasing access to higher education among the Arab population in Israel.

  • Promoting High-Quality Employment among Young Adults in Israel’s Arab Society

    Marian Tehawkho, Tali Larom and Sabaa Jabali-Serhan

    This paper explores the decline in employment and the rise in the NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) rate among young Arabs, providing explanations and suggesting policy measures for their effective integration into the economy and society.

  • Integrating Arab Young Adults in STEM Education and High Quality Employment

    Idit Kalisher, Marian Tehawkho, Ayala Partush, Haneen Matar, Omar Makhzumy and Sabaa Jabali-Serhan

    This paper presents a mapping and identification of barriers for young Arab adults to integrate into STEM higher education and quality employment. Recommendations include guidance and advice, skills acquisition, setting measurable goals and monitoring compliance.

  • The Decline in Employment of Young Men in Arab Society and its Characteristics

    Marian Tehawkho, Tali Larom and Kiril Moskalev

    This work investigates the decline in Arab men's employment occurred before the COVID-19 crisis throughout 2014-2019, focusing on young men aged 18-24, and the characteristics of the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).

  • The Digital Challenge in Arab Education: Lessons from COVID- 19 Crisis

    Idit Kalisher, Marian Tehawkho, Kiril Moskalev and Haneen Matar

    This paper reviews the gaps in digital capacities and distant-learning capabilities between the Arab and Hebrew education systems and the difficulties and barriers that arose from the field during the COVID-19 crisis, and offers recommendations to reduce the gaps.

  • The Digital Challenge Facing Israeli Arab Society

    Marian Tehawkho, Hila Axelrad and Hanin Matar

    This paper presents the existing gaps between the Arab and (non-Haredi) Jewish populations in Israel in terms of digital infrastructures, digital literacy, and the usage characteristics of digital tools and services, and proposes short- and long-term policies to reduce these gaps.

  • Disparities Between Jewish and Arab Students During COVID-19 Crisis

    Marian Tehawkho, Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya and Haneen Matar

  • Return on Knowledge of Hebrew in Arab Society

    Idit Kalisher, Kiril Moskalev and Marian Tehawkho

    Barriers to Language Learning and How to Remove Them

  • COVID-19 Crisis in the Israeli-Arab Society

    Kiril Moskalev and Marian Tehawkho