Business  Technology
Tel Aviv No. 2 city for tech startups
Itamar Eichner
Published: 11.08.13, 07:52
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14 Talkbacks for this article
1. Still Israel is third world country
(08.11.13)
With religious zealots, discrimination, racism, violence and low salaries
2. to #1
Andi ,   Israel   (08.11.13)
Well, apart from the low wages which is variable around the world, that makes us similar to virtually every other country with elements of "religious zealots, discrimination, racism, violence". Its certainly true in the US and most of Europe, and definitely true throughout the Middle East. Your problem is you're trying to make Israel out to be worse than anywhere else-and it won't wash. Israel is far less racist and more egalitarian than many other places and certainly better than any ME Muslim country. And whilst our religious zealots do have some influence on some aspects of our government, we are trying to do something about it-not given them more power as in other countries
3. #1
carlos ,   San Diego CA   (08.11.13)
Israel has achieved in 62 yearsin all areas of human endevour what nobiody has achieved in 400, 2000, 3,000 years . That includes your country wherever you are from.
4. #1 - I have to agree with you..
SB ,   Sydney, AU / TLV, IL   (08.11.13)
plus for a country with all these 'amazing' start ups.. they are still obsessed with sending faxes and checks.. I think there are so many start ups because everyone wants to be a manager and not listen to anyone else.
5. #1
Amichai ,   Huntsville, US   (08.11.13)
And yet it's STILL the dominant force in the Middle East. I think I sense a bit of jealousy.
6. Good one Andi! #2
Imperator ,   US/Israel   (08.11.13)
I could not have written a better retort to #1. Forbes Magazine recently printed an article describing how Palestinian IT entrepreneurs in the WB (Shomron and Judea for me!) work with their Israeli colleagues in Israel proper Many of them actually go to Technion in Haifa. So much for racism...
7. No it is not even 2nd best
Dennis   (08.12.13)
Why? Because it is good for Jews only. Non Jews would most likely be underpayed and their knowledge stolen for benefit of Israel. meaning, it does not pay nor is it in interest of non-Jewish personnel to do any type of tech business in Israel. Any country would pay more and respect you more in the end, but Israel.
8. #1 Low salaries might trigger entrepreneurialism
Logic ,   Israel   (08.12.13)
If white collar salaries are relatively low across the spectrum of careers, then this may provide a lot more incentive to make it big on one's own efforts. On the other hand, America still has a lot of corporate jobs that pay well and a lack of health insurance security, which probably prevents a lot of people from starting a venture.
9. To nr 1 - Israel is a "third world country"? Oh really?
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (08.12.13)
Regarding GDP per capita, which INCLUDES purchasing power parity per capita, which gives us a good idea of how much money the average Israeli makes, we can determine the standard of living in Israel. Just hard data. According to the World Bank, Israel ranks 32nd at 28.809 US Dollars. According to International Monetary Fund, Israel ranks 26th at 32.312 US Dollars., AHEAD of countries like South Korea, Spain, Italy and New Zealand. To give you a comparison, France was ranked 25th at 35.548 US Dollars. According to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Israel ranks 29th at 32.800 US Dollars - again ahead of Spain, Italy and New Zealand. There is another measurement called Human Development Index (HDI). HDI consists of composite statistics that measures life expectancy, education and income indices. 186 countries have been surveyed and researched by the United Nations (UN). The figures apply to 2013. Of all countries in the world, Israel ranks 16th. To give you an idea of what that means, Denmark was ranked 15th, Sweden 7th and USA 3rd. Israel however ranks HIGHER than countries such as Belgium (17th), Austria (18th), France (20th), Finland (21st), Spain (23rd), Liechtenstein (24th), Italy (25th), Luxembourg (26th), United Kingdom (26th) and Poland (39th) - just to give you an idea of how "impoverished" Israel really is. Israeli unemployment rate is lower than the average European unemployment rate. Take a good look at Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, France and Sweden - just to mention a few examples. Israel's average annual GDP growth is somewhere between 3-4% in comparison to 0-2% for most European countries.
10. To nr 1
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (08.12.13)
Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, all Eastern European countries, New Zealand - and according to some institutes - even South Korea, have lower average salaries than Israel. Religious zealots, discrimination and racism and violence exist in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan as well. These are DEVELOPED countries just like Israel. Racism and discrimination are not a measurment of a country's technological, academic and scientific development. Racism and discrimination are very evident and visible in Europe and Japan. Are these countries "third world countries" according to you? Speaking of violence: criminality in Israel is considerably lower than most Western nations and we cannot be held responsible for the fact that Arab countries and Arab terrorist organizations won't leave Israel alone.
11. to #9: that is just plain untruth
Benjamin ,   TA   (08.13.13)
NZ GDP per capita is more than Israel, as anyone who know magic word "google" can verify. I really have no idea what you are trying to achieve here. Make Israel look worse by showing her defenders are lairs?
12. lol@ #11
(08.13.13)
v true
13. To nr 11 and to nr 12: My advice: learn to read
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (08.13.13)
The data concerning New Zealand is available at Wikipedia. You can Google that as well. Google PPP per capita. You'll get different values depending on what institute you are looking at. The particular measurement we are using here is Purchasing Power Parity per capita. According to the World Bank (figures apply to 2005-2012), New Zealand is ranked 27th at 31,499 US Dollars, and Israel is ranked 32nd at 28,809 US Dollars. This places Israel BEHIND New Zealand according to World Bank. But, if you ask International Monetary Fund (2010),Israel is ranked 26th at 32,312 US Dollars and New Zealand at 32nd at 29,730 US Dollars. This places Israel AHEAD of New Zealand according to IMF. If you ask Central Intelligence Agency (2012), Israel is ranked 29th at 32,800 US dollars and New Zealand 35th at 30,200 US Dollars. Benjamin - just visit CIA Factbook. It's all there. This places Israel AHEAD of New Zealand. According to University of Pennsylvania (2010), New Zealand is ranked 26th at 32,220 US Dollars and Israel at 31st at 29,376 US Dollars. This places Israel BEHIND New Zealand. You'll get different values depending on what a) institute you ask and b) what calender year the figures are based on- no figures are constant. I said that Israel is ranked ahead of New Zealand according to CIA and IMF - I didn't say that Israel is always ranked ahead of New Zealand. I suggest you Benjamin and anonymous mr "LOL" at nr 12 LEARN TO READ. Interestingly, you are only referring to one single set of data pertaining only to one particular nation, and yet you have absolutely nothing to say about the rest of my talkbacks. Even if we assume that I'm "wrong" about New Zealand, but I am right about the rest of the data, it makes me a "liar" according to you? Don't you find this a bit strange dear Benjamin? Or maybe you're not really called Benjamin and maybe you're not even Jewish? As for nr 12: What about doing your own research - and what about using a name - instead of being anonymous and writing "LOL". How about simple facts? The level of stupidity among people here is simply staggering.
14. To nr 11 - No I speak the truth
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (08.13.13)
Dear Benjamin: According to World Bank and University of Pennsylvania, Israel is ranked BEHIND New Zealand. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Israel is ranked AHEAD of New Zealand. It depends on what institute you are asking. The measurement is still the same: GDP per capita or PPP per capita. If you don't trust me you are more then welcome to visit the homepages of the World Bank, University of Pennsylvania, International Monetary Fund and Central Intelligence Agency. The facts are there for you to read. I am not lying to anyone. You'll get different values depending on which institute you ask and what calendar year the figures are based on. No figures are constant.
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