KettleWhistle
02-09-2005, 10:47 AM
One of the problems for Israel and the world's Jewry is our numbers. There are too few of us. Back in the Golda Meir days Israel had a semi-active family-planning program to incourage families with many children. These failed , in part due to their effectiveness on the poorest segments of the population, and ineffectiveness on those families that could afford it rather easily. Nevertheless, our numbers are lacking and it may be worth to encourage high birth rate among Israeli Jews, and to subsidize families with many children.
To compare the numbers with other countries, there are 5million Jews in Israel vs. 60 million French (2004 population growth rate 0.4%), 82 million Germans (population growth rate 0%), 60 million Brits (growth rate: 0.3%), 144 million Russians (growth rate: -0.5%, birth rate: 9.6/1000, infant mortality rate: 17.0/1000) and some 250 million Arabs whose population growth is bound to hurt them rather than help them.
It seems that heavy investment in population expansion and government policies that incourage high birth rates can even out the numbers in a matter of several generations if it would be possible to make 5-or-more-children families a social norm. But the big question is that of the economic impact this may have. I tend to think that unlike what happens in the developing world, this will create an economic growth, and otherwise will have a positive impact on the country as a whole.
Such was the case with preceeding population increases by the means of aliahs. There is no reason why a good increase in population wouldn't have a similar effects on the economy by increasing the number of consumers as well as the workforce required to serve them. Of course, the challenge will be the initial 20 to 30 years that it will take for this generation to grow up, and the investment that will be required to properly educate them.
Nevertheless, if we are to take into account the population decline in Europe, such policy may help us even out the numbers, and also to become a bigger player in the international economy by becoming a sizable consumer. Overall, it could give Israel the manpower to defend itself demographically, as well as to add political capital in the form of economic influences, which will also make the country more self-sutainable.
To compare the numbers with other countries, there are 5million Jews in Israel vs. 60 million French (2004 population growth rate 0.4%), 82 million Germans (population growth rate 0%), 60 million Brits (growth rate: 0.3%), 144 million Russians (growth rate: -0.5%, birth rate: 9.6/1000, infant mortality rate: 17.0/1000) and some 250 million Arabs whose population growth is bound to hurt them rather than help them.
It seems that heavy investment in population expansion and government policies that incourage high birth rates can even out the numbers in a matter of several generations if it would be possible to make 5-or-more-children families a social norm. But the big question is that of the economic impact this may have. I tend to think that unlike what happens in the developing world, this will create an economic growth, and otherwise will have a positive impact on the country as a whole.
Such was the case with preceeding population increases by the means of aliahs. There is no reason why a good increase in population wouldn't have a similar effects on the economy by increasing the number of consumers as well as the workforce required to serve them. Of course, the challenge will be the initial 20 to 30 years that it will take for this generation to grow up, and the investment that will be required to properly educate them.
Nevertheless, if we are to take into account the population decline in Europe, such policy may help us even out the numbers, and also to become a bigger player in the international economy by becoming a sizable consumer. Overall, it could give Israel the manpower to defend itself demographically, as well as to add political capital in the form of economic influences, which will also make the country more self-sutainable.