1. UNEVENNESS IN THE ISRAELI RURAL SPACE
Michael Sofer and Levia Applebaum
Department of Geography and Environment
Bar-Ilan University
Regional Science Association
5th Israeli – British/Irish Workshop
29th-30th April 2007

3. The aim
The aim of this presentation is to exhibit some aspects of the pattern of unevenness and suggest possible underlying factors which may explain the growing polarisation perceived within the rural space in Israel.
We present at this stage aspects concerning the spatial dimension of unevenness, though later on as the research advances we intend to analyse other dimensions as well.

4. Why do we use regional councils?
The regional councils are the municipal authorities of the rural area and their jurisdictions cover almost 90% of the land area of Israel. They contain, with few exceptions, almost all of the rural communities and only several small urban communities and can therefore be regarded as representative of the rural space.
There are 53 regional councils just under 600,000 inhabitants. About 1000 settlements.

5. Comparative data: national and rural indicators, 2004
Demography
Indicator
Regional councils
National figures
597.3
6869.5
Total (000)
8.7
100.0
% share
2.9
1.8
Rate of growth
2004/2003 (%)
36.9
33.3
Age group 0-17 (%)
Dependency ratio
5.1
Infant mortality
(average )

6. Eligibility for university entrance
Social and economic
Indicator
Regional councils
National figures
63.7
55.1
HSC (%)
53.2
44.1
Eligibility for university entrance
5,919
6,040
Average gross income per non-salaried employee (2003
6,363
6,008
Average gross income per salaried employee (2003)
44.6
44.3
Minimum salary earners (%)
omit minimum salary earners. If you have data % of those earning twice the average income may be more relavant
The figure for regional councils is I have to calculate from Table 6 CBS.

7. Aspects of the ongoing transformation of Israeli rural space
Declining significance of agriculture in terms of employment, contribution to the GDP, share of export and land under cultivation, combined with crop specialisation.
Expansion of the phenomenon of pluriactivity.
Penetration of non-agricultural businesses into rural settlements
Geriatrification, suburbanization and the repopulation of aging rural communities.
Gentrification of many rural communities, particularly in the rural-urban fringe of metropolitan areas.

8. Selected Indicators for the Agricultural Sector
Emphasize the decline in the number of farming households. The rest is less relevant to our subject.

9. Employment in agriculture and in the rural settlements, 1960 - 2002

11. North
Haifa
Judea and Samaria
Centre
Jerusalem
South

12. Monthly per capita income, 2003 (NIS)

13. Gini coefficient for income distribution among salaried employees, 2003

14. Net migration
To suggest at this point that income is an important factor but does not provide a sufficient explanation for the attractivity of an area.

15. Median age of the population, 2004

16. Dependency ratio, 2004

17. Eligibility for university entrance, 2004

18. Spatial distribution of holdings with non-agricultural activities, by agricultural area, 2002

19. Spatial distribution of new residential units in rural communities (occupied or under construction) (2002)

20. Selected regional data, 2003-2004

21. Weighted socio economic level of a regional council
(10 is the highest level)
Arab inhabitants (%) 7
7.6 6
8.4 4
16.0 5
21.5
22.2
23.3
28.4
30.8
39.2
49.0
56.9 3
100.0
The socio-economic level of regional councils with Arab inhabitants

22. What can be learned so far?
The Centre is richer, older, attracts more population and is characterised by higher internal inequality.
The South is poorer and loosing population, it is characterised by lower levels of income but shows lower levels of internal inequality.
Judea and Samaria is characterised by lower level of incomes but is still attractive, particularly to younger population.

23. General preliminary explanation
The polarisation process could be explained in view of:
The weakening of the equalisation mechanisms which were at the core of rural settlements in Israel.
The selective spatial penetration of external private and public capital into the rural areas.
The increasing polarisation of the Israeli society at large.

24. Mechanisms of establishment
Economic crises of the mid 1980s
Weakening of importance of agriculture in the national economy
Weakening of the political power of the rural settlements
Weakening of the level of cooperation – decline in internal solidarity, lose of social capital
Distance from economic cores – physical distance, political distance

25. Mechanisms of maintenance (forces of preservation)
Polarisation processes that operate at large in the Israeli economic space
Capital allocation of public and private capital
Internal migration
Changes in the perception of life style and related residential style – gentrification
Lack of economic opportunities
Contest on land resources
Distance from economic cores – physical distance, political distance

26. Thanks for your attention

27. Number of new residential units in rural communities (occupied or under construction) by region