ss in rescuing itself from all these crises, emerging each time stronger than it had been previously, is perhaps its biggest achievement. Each of the achievements described below, and it is not possible to list them all, is important in its own right. However, it is when they are considered together that they constitute building blocks in the country's main economic achievement: Israel's current economic strength, as testified to by its membership in the group of 25 countries with the highest per capita national income in the world, and Israel's return in the 90s to the group of countries with the world's highest rates of economic growth. http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00uc0WelfareThis requires a great deal of public resources in all countries. However, in Israel's case, the resources required were even greater. This was not because the needs of immigrants were greater, but also because it became clear by the end of the 60s that it would be necessary to make efforts to rescue from poverty quite a few of the immigrant families that had arrived during the early years of the state. As a result of the lack of funds available when these immigrants arrived in Israel, their physical and social absorption had not always been successful. Thus, the Israeli economy had to allocate resources to deal with a variety of issues in the areas of housing, education, health and social rehabilitation. Again, the cost was high.The Economic MiracleThis achievement entailed, or at least so it would seem, contravening a law of economic theory (based on the principle of the "scarcity of resources") - allowing the consumption of only as much as is produced - because throughout Israel's existence the economy has used more resources than it produced, despite the rapid growth in its national product. In national accounts terms, this is illustrated by the fact that the value of Israel's imports has constantly been greater than the value of its exports. I...
