Summary: On this episode of The Cost of Doing Business:Once again, The Ministry of Defense demands a budget increase, bringing the annual War on the Defense Budget to an early start. Why can’t Israel ever cut the defense budget? Meirav Arlosoroff, Senior Columnist for financial newspaper TheMarker, talks to us -The housing market in Israel is essentially frozen while everyone waits for Yair Lapid's VAT-free-new-apartments bill to be passed. What’s going to happen when it does, or if it doesn’t? Efrat Tolkowsky, CEO of the Gazit Globe Real Estate Institute and a lecturer at IDC Herzliya talks us through it. -Stoned-up nation: can Israel become one of the biggest exporters of medical Marijuana, if not the biggest in the world? Farmers in this burgeoning medical cannabis industry seem to think so. Shmulik Scharf, Business Development Manager at Bazelet - a leading medical marijuana supplier - explains how innovative Israel even when it comes to pot -The executive compensation party in Israel’s capital market continues, uninterrupted, with the top 150 senior managers collecting a billion shekels in wages and bonuses in 2013 - a 12% rise from 2012. Nir Zalik, Capital Market Reporter for financial newspaper Calcalist, details exactly how disconnected performance and bonuses are. -Start up of the week: Kiddyup is an online, crowd-sourced, location-based marketplace for parents that strives to be Waze for Parenting. CEO Zoe Bermant talks to us -Plus: music by Wovenhand, Stiff Little Fingers, Porno for Pyros, Peeping Tom and Tom waits & Keith Richards (Son of Rogues Gallery) MUSIC1. Wovenhand - Hiss2. Stiff Little Fingers - Doesn't Make It All Right3. Porno for Pyros - Pets4.Peeping Tom - Mojo5.Son Of Rogues Gallery - "Shenandoah"
