Conflict and the ethnic structure of the marketplace: Evidence from Israel

How and why does ethnic conflict affect the ethnic structure of the marketplace? To answer these questions, this paper merges a unique administrative dataset covering the universe of transactions in the Israeli market for used cars during 1998–2010 with data on the intensity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The analysis shows that violence reduces the number of transactions between Arab sellers and Jewish buyers while increasing the number of transactions between Arab sellers and Arab buyers; violence has no effect on the number of transactions involving Jewish sellers. I relate these findings to the economic literature studying the sources of discrimination.     

Assessing land use plan implementation: Bridging the performance-conformance divide

The assessment of land use plan implementation is a contentious issue. The debate centers on whether the crucial evaluation element is conformance of development to plan directives or alternatively, plan performance, i.e. the degree to which the plan is actually used. An analytic framework combining both conformance and performance in the evaluation of (regional) land use plans is applied to the case of the Central District Plan in Israel. Qualitative and quantitative simulation methods are exploited. Qualitative analysis reveals that both performance and conformance are greater than indicated by non-contextualized, numeric evaluations. Additionally, high conformance does not necessarily imply good plan performance. Quantitative simulation suggests that plan performance with respect to land values and densities is initially pronounced as expectations for development are subdued but subsequently tends to wane merging with the counterfactual trend. Findings imply that plan assessment needs to consider the transaction costs of land use re-designation and actors’ perceptions of the probability that plan amendments will be approved. These perceptions differ across actors as a function of the political influence that they wield.     

Integration of and Deliveries among the World Zionist Organization,Israel, and Diaspora Countries: System Articulation with the Social Fabric Matrix

Abstract:

The religious economics (not economics of religion) concern here is the relationship between the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and Israel, which is known as a geopolitical power in its region and which is also known as an economic success story. Joseph Schumpeter and Karl Polanyi explained how the political economy of medieval Europe was influenced and guided by Christian morality. This paper extends the analysis of religious economics by using the social fabric matrix of original institutional economics to define and structure the integration of the WZO, Israel, and the Diaspora countries. This allows us to observe how to conduct such work and to learn how Israel is guided and influenced by the WZO. It also helps to explain Israel’s “risk of tearing itself apart” as noted in a recent article in the New York Times.     

Tourism,heritage and politics: conflicts at the City of David,Jerusalem

This article analyses the development and progress of conflicts at the “City of David” heritage-tourism site in Jerusalem, Israel and the reciprocal relations between heritage sites and conflicts. It offers a comprehensive examination of the development of a major tourist attraction in Israel. Our research is based on the following two methods of qualitative research: (1) in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 43 key stakeholders; (2) textual analysis of current written materials and historical documents. The study investigates the relevant processes and decisions, stakeholder perceptions, the role of the archaeological excavations, and their relationship to the development of conflict. On a broader level, this study formulates a theoretical and practical framework for analysing the development of heritage tourism sites in conflict zones.     

Samson's failures to save Israel in Judges

Samson is the last and the strongest judge in Judges of the Old Testament.He should have been the bravest hero for the Israel people.However,due to his disobedience,complacent assertion and self-indulgence,Samson doesn't accept the would-be respects from Israel,but died miserably.     

Characteristics of developers and their relations to open space conservation

Developers are entrepreneurs that initiate and carry out land development projects. They play an active dominant and leading role in land use planning decisions, and are, therefore, expected to have a significant impact on patterns of development and open space conservation. The present study identified correlations between characteristics of developers and indicators of open space conservation, based on a random sample of 88 statutory land use plans in the Tel Aviv metropolitan region over the period 1990–1999. The variables used to describe characteristics of developers were of two kinds: direct variables including developer type and land ownership, and indirect proxy variables that represented typical entrepreneurial behaviors (profit seeking, risk taking and innovativeness) including: net residential density, open space per residential unit, spatial location of the plan area and the time lapse until plan approval. Indicators of conservation were: size of plan area, existing agricultural land within the plan, proposed open space and effective open space. We found that developer type and land ownership were connected mainly to plan size and existing agricultural land rate, both indicators of regional conservation potential, while variables representing profit seeking, risk taking and innovativeness were significantly connected to proposed and effective open space rates, which express the conservation level within plans.     

Effects of perceived constraints and negotiation on learned helplessness: A study of Chinese senior outbound tourists

Learned helplessness is an important psychological construct that may influence senior tourists' subjective wellbeing while travelling. Employing a mixed-method approach and a multi-sample design, this study examines how Chinese senior outbound tourists’ perceived travel constraints and negotiation efforts affect learned helplessness in outbound travel. We identified four perceived constraints (perceived incapability, lack of suitable travel agencies and services, lack of information and personal support, and complex travel decision-making) and three negotiation strategies (seeking family support, physical/health preparation, and learning). Multiple regression analyses showed that among the four perceived constraints, only perceived incapability increased learned helplessness significantly; conversely, negotiation in general reduced learned helplessness. However, not as expected, negotiation was not founded to be a moderator between perceived constraints and learned helplessness. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.     

荷兰、以色列农业对贵州农业区域经济发展的借鉴

贵州农业总体滞后于全国的发展水平,除受整体的社会经济发展状况以及历史缘由等因素的影响外,主要还受制于自然资源和环境。而人多地少,农业资源贫乏的荷兰和以色列,农业发展条件受自然资源环境约束的程度更严重,该文通过农业生产结构、农业劳动生产率、土地生产率、劳动者等农业生产要素的资源配置及生产组织化程度等方面比荷兰、以色列的比较,总结借鉴发达国家发展农业的特色经验,思考贵州省农业区域经济的跨越式发展。     

Insurgent Building: Emerging Spatial Politics in the Bedouin–State Conflict in Israel

In the conflict between Bedouin representatives and government authorities in the southern Israeli Negev, the term ‘insurgent building’ refers to the construction of buildings erected in the full expectation that they will be demolished by the Israeli police shortly thereafter. This article analyses how insurgent building is employed as a spatial practice by emerging political actors to claim contested Bedouin landownership. Importantly, insurgent building relies on the ability of media and advocacy organizations to mobilize behind the issue. Most of the relevant scholarship takes the interpretative categories advanced by these actors at face value. Following anthropological debates regarding objectification and categorization, I examine the context of a specific case of insurgent building. Emerging political actors who employ insurgent building often rely on predefined ethnic categories and clear‐cut people–state polarities. This case demonstrates the need for a more differentiated understanding of multilayered local dynamics than the one offered by mainstream linear interpretations. At a more abstract level, political actors contribute to the reproduction of the very categories against which they mobilize.