"Hashomer Hadash" Data: The Crime Epidemic Costs Each Israeli 8,000 Shekels a Year
Two bodies working to strengthen governance in Israel have published a study according to which the public pays criminals an indirect tax of 23 billion shekels: the protection money paid by contractors and farmers is…
Assessment
A new study by two organizations focused on governance in Israel quantifies the direct financial burden of crime on every household, estimating an annual cost of 8,000 shekels. The research highlights how protection money paid by contractors and farmers is embedded in food prices, while car insurance costs have surged 56% in two years. The key question is whether this data will shift public discourse from anecdotal fear to a concrete economic argument for policy change.