The most prolific Orthodox Jewish blog on economic issues in the JBlogosphere is by far Orthonomics.Understandably, the majority of the issues she raises relate to economics in the United States -- so a service to all, I present a special Muqatonomics (tm) edition on the economics of living in Israel.
As my father-in-law loves to remind me, Israel is a rich country.
Everything costs more here.
Well, not exactly -- there's Jewish education which is still much more inexpensive here in Israel, but many more staples are more expensive.
What I'd like to understand is why an Israeli snack food, "Nish Nash", (known in Israel as "Nishnushim") is manufactured in Israel, sold in stores in Israel, yet costs 3 times more in Israel than via Amazon in the United States?!
In Israel -- the 300gm package costs 13.39 NIS in the store (and on the Blue Square WebSite, they have a special, buy one, get the second half price, but the 19 NIS minimum shipping boosts the price up, so we'll ignore the "special" for now...the identical equivalent if you want to see it yourself is נישנושים זעתר בייגל בייגל 300 גרם -- use נישנושים as the product loookup word)
In the USA -- on Amazon, you can buy 2 twelve-packs of the same product for $32.46 (using the $10 bonus coupon offer "BEIGEL05") and you are entitled to free shipping! $32.46 for 24 packs comes out to $1.35 (or 4.49 NIS at today's 3.32 exchange rate).
13.39 NIS in Israel
4.49 NIS in the USA
Why does it cost 3 times more in Israel?
Simple. We're a rich country.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
