Summary: On this episode of The Cost of Doing Business:The approval of a 6.3 million Shekel pay packet for Mizrahi Tefahot's CEO Eldad Fresher, raises the familiar question: Are executive salaries spiraling out of control? More crucially, can anybody stop the compensation party in Israel's capital market? How much can the regulators even do? Dr. Ido Baum, law professor at the College of Management and legal commentator for financial newspaper TheMarker, shares his insight. -Special interview with Dr. Michael Sarel, former chief economist at the Israeli Ministry of Finance. Sarel unexpectedly quit his position in the finance ministry due to Yair Lapid’s controversial plan to eliminate the value-added-tax on new apartments. Here he details how dangerous this plan is, why it will cost Israel $3billion NIS a year whilst simultaneously causing a hike in house prices and how it is the public are still unaware what's at stake. -Hebrew Book Week is upon us - the week-long festival for Hebrew literature where publishers are usually at their busiest and merriest. However this year, the industry is on the verge of near-total collapse, following the bankruptcy of Israel’s biggest book chain. With publishers down-sizing and very few new titles planned for next year, are we on the brink of a cultural crisis? Rani Graff, CEO and chief editor at Graff Publishing, explains. -Another episode of our favorite segment: Q and Amy - Israeli economics 101 for people who are just now being introduced to our loopy ways. This time, British native Amy is dizzy with delight at the comparatively cheap Israeli buses and trains. Too bad we have to go spoil it for her.. -Plus: music by Dead Kennedys, Roky Erickson, The Twilight Singers, Tom Waits, Rilo Kiley
