The Council was enacted in a Government Resolution of September 2006, and its role includes, inter alia:

1. Formulating initiatives for policy steps intended to encourage growth in the economy, while narrowing gaps.

2. Preparing opinions regarding state budget proposals before its submission to the Government, as well as on specific budgetary issues.

3. Preparing professional opinions regarding propositions on decisions on the agenda of the Government and government committees in economic fields.

The head of the Council is Prof. Eugene Kandel, from the School of Business and Department of Economics at The Hebrew University. In the past years, Prof. Kandel has been serving as a professor in leading universities in the world, including University of Chicago, University of Rochester and Washington University.  Prof. Kandel  is also a Member of the Center for the Study of Rationality in the Hebrew University and a research Associate in the European Corporate Governance Institute. He Specializes in Financial Intermediation and Market Microstructure. In the past, he has served as an adviser in Governmental,  Financial and Economic institutes. More about Prof Eugene Kandel. 

In the framework of the Council, a division for research and information operates, which includes a professional and multi-disciplinary team of economists with senior degrees, at the head of which is the Vice Head of the Council. 

The Advisory Committee

An advisory Committee operates beside The national Economic Council. The committee has been assigned by the Prime Minister in order to serve as an advisor to The Prime Minister and The Council. The Committee consists of experts and senior Economists with experience in The public sector, the private sector and in academia.

The Head of the Committee is Mr. Ori Yogev who has served in the past as the Budget Director of Israel's Ministry of Finance and Is the current chairman of WhiteWater.

The Council may be reached by telephone at: 02-670-5636; by fax: 02-670-5677; or by e-mail: nec@it.pmo.gov.il.