The Cost of Doing Business

On this episode on the cost of doing business:Is Israel treading water in its battle against corruption? At least according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2013, that seems to be the case.  Attorney Heather Stone, partner at GKH Law Offices, explains why Israel is not doing more to clamp down on corruption in the public sector.Saporta from Tel Aviv University’s Business School.Thousands of Israelis have been laid off over the past few weeks, but the unemployment rate is down. How is that and is "the wave of job cuts" that supposedly envelops Israel nothing but media hype? Shraga Brosh, former president of Israel’s Manufacturers Association and former chairman of the Israeli Employment Service, and Mickey Peled, Labor and Welfare reporter for Calcalist, comment on the issue.Israeli start-up Circ Medtech develops a patent that enables circumcisions without blood, knives or anesthetics, in the hope of reducing AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. How does it work and how do you create positive change in the world and also take care of your bottom line? We speak to Tzameret Fuerst, co-founder and president of Circ Medtech.The Devil may wear Prada, but should he belong in a co-op? A Israeli "partnership" of designers, CO.CO, aims to revolutionize the fashion industry. Liat Aharonson, a partner in the endeavor, tells us all about it. Playlist: Dinosaur Jr. - Pierce The Morning RainThe Black Angels - Young Men DeadTV On The Radio - Wolf Like Meהפוסי של לוסי - רק לא אצלנו בשכונהThe Clash - Lost in the Supermarket

1: Roky Erickson: I think of Demons 2: Porno for Pyros - Pets 3: Ozzy Osbourne &Motorhead: I ain’t no nice guy 4: Biluim - Bab al Wa 5: MC5 - Kick out the Jams

- We review the life and legacy of the late Dov Lautman, a pioneer of Israeli industry who passed away last week - New report by the Ministry of Health reveals just how deep the gaps are between the rich and the poor in Israel’s health care system - Facebook for investors? Israeli start-up eToro aims to do to investing what other social media platforms did to pictures of food and cat photo - New leader of the Israeli left: Isaac “Bougie” Herzog wins the Labor primaries and dethrones Shelly Yachimovich Playlist:I don’t want to grow up - Ramones Noir Desir+ 16 Horsepower - The Partisan Grinderman - Bellringer Blues Soulsavers - Paper Money The Who - Slip Kid 

Song: Sonic Youth – Sugar KaneSong: Pixies – Wave of MutilationJohn Cooper Clarke - Evidently ChickentownSong: Queens of the stone age- I appear MissingSong: Killing Joke - The WaitSong: Patrik Fitzgerald - Set We Free

Johnny Cash – Ghost riders in the sky dEUS: Sister Dew GG Alin - Carmelita Afghan Whigs – Honky's Ladder The Kinks – I'm not like everybody else The Gun Club – Mother of Earth 

On today's The Cost of Doing Business:The "trapped profits" scandal: following a last-minute effort on the part of the Israeli Tax Authority to retrieve unpaid corporate tax, the state collects more than expected. But is this truly a cause to celebrate? Did Israel lose 20 billion shekels, or gain 2 billion shekels? Meirav Arlozorov, Senior Business Columnist at TheMarker, scrutinizes this week's events.Israeli Chemicals (ICL) reports a 80% decline in quarterly profits, citing weakness and uncertainty in the potash market. Is the company facing two rough years of adjusting to lower potash prices? What to make of its planned dual listing at the New York Stock Exchange? Gil Bashan, Analyst at IBI, gives us the crack.Embattled billionaire Nochi Dankner brings in new and strange partners, in an effort to regain control of IDB and reclaim old glory. Who are these partners and what are his chances of success? Hagay Amit, Business Reporter for TheMarker, explains.New report by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reveals: Which is the best-paid city in Israel? Where does one earn more and spend less on housing? Yoel Finkel, Associate Government Statistician at CBS, will detail the data. Einat Paz-Frenkel, Real Estate reporter for Calcalist, shares her insight.And, of course: great music by Mark Lanegan, Rollins Band, Butthole Surfers and Faith No More

Dinosaur Jr. – The WagonSystem Ali - Ala BaliMonotonix - Body LanguageWarren Zevon – Life'll kill yaBob Dylan - Duquesne Whistle 

On today's Cost of Doing Business:   The unexpected resignation of Ofer Eini, chairman o Israel's biggest trade union" Histadrut", Why did Eini resign and what happens after one of Israel's most powerful and also most controversial figures clears the stage? David Rosenberg, Economics Editor of Haaretz in English, gives us the juice on the big economic drama of the week. In light of the recent Histadrut shake-up, it is time to look back and ask: what happened to organized labor in Israel during Eini's 8 years on the job? Sharon Luzon, political activist and member of Koah Laovdim, a rival trade union, shares his 2 cents... New report admonishes Israel for not enforcing its own laws against foreign bribery. Does lack of enforcement instigate corruption by foreign companies, and what can companies do to make up for the lack of regulation? PLUS: a highly musical episode filled with great songs by Wanda Jackson, Billy Bragg, Daniel Johnston and more.     Playlist:   Wanda Jackson: Funnel of love? Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar Daniel Johnston: True Love will find you in the end Tom Waits – Make it Rain Billy Bragg – Which side are you one?

Roky Erickson – Two Headed DogDanzig - MotherPogues – If I should fall from grace of GodNick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!הבילויים - נפלא פה

Warren Zevon: My shit's fucked upMark Lanegan& PJ Harvey: Hit the CityEinstürzende Neubauten - Stella MarisGun Club: she's like heroin to meRichard Thompson: Dad's gonna kill me ‏

Sweet Jane - Velvet Underground Psycho - Jack Kittel How much is enough? - Bad Religion My Narrow Mind - Horsepower Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

Allo Darlin' – Henry Rollins don't dance Grinderman – Heathen ChildBucharest - Freaking OutBob Dylan – Things have Changed

Allo Darlin' – Henry Rollins don't danceGrinderman – Heathen ChildBucharest - Freaking OutBob Dylan – Things have Changed

This week on The Cost of Doing Business: Warren Buffet goes back to Israel: a Berkshire-Hathaway subsidiary purchases Israeli- based company Ray-Q Interconnect for an undisclosed sum:  why Ray-Q, a virtually-unknown company?; Better Place, once the golden promise of Israeli innovation, goes from bad to worse as a district court cancels its sale to businessman Tzahi Merkur; the planned rail to Eilat achieves an important approval: will the multi-billion dollar project justify its huge costs, or turn into a white elephant?; With the start of the academic year in Israel, we take a look at the financial state of Israeli students, many working two or even three jobs to support themselves during their studies. Plus, songs by Marianne Faithful, Dinosaur Jr., Public Image ltd and others.    Playlist: Dinosaur Jr. – Over it Marianne Faithfull – The Stations   Rodriguez – I wonder פורטיסחרוף - תחת אש Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes Public Image ltd –Rise