תמונת דף
תקציר
This publication presents findings of a study on characterization and ranking of
various geographical units in Israel by the population’s socio-economic level. The
analysis focused on two types of geographical units: local authorities and statistical
areas. Separate analysis was conducted for each type of geographical units. The
analysis of local authorities included the municipalities, local councils, and regional
councils. The analysis of statistical areas included large urban localities (numbering
over 10,000 residents), as well as local councils that are not divided into separate
statistical areas (up to 10,000 residents). The study was based on multivariate analysis
of demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the population and
households. The sources used were the 2008 Census of Population, data on income
from the Ministry of Finance, and data on recipients of allowances from the National
Insurance Institute and the Ministry for Religious Services. Factor analysis was
conducted to derive an index that reflected the socio-economic level of the population
residing in each geographical unit. Afterwards, the cluster analysis was carried out to
classify the geographical units into homogeneous groups based on the population’s
socio-economic level. In addition, this publication includes estimators of the variance
within localities that are divided into statistical areas, and within the regional councils.
The Central Bureau of Statistics hopes that the characterization of geographical units
presented in this publication will provide a basis for planning, administration, and
research. The socio-economic index is a tool for comparing the levels of populations
in geographical units, and can also be helpful in identifying prosperous and poor
regions. In addition, the index can contribute toward improving government policies
for local authorities.
The Division for Statistical Analysis of the Central Bureau of Statistics and the staff
of the Research and Information department at the Ministry of the Interior
collaborated in the preparation of the index. The study was commissioned by the
Ministry of the Interior, and is intended to serve as an indicator of needs for allocating
grants to local authorities, as well as for other purposes. We would like to thank
Mr. Issachar Dor from the Ministry of the Interior and Mr. Jacques Bendelac and
Ms. Miriam Shmeltzer from the National Insurance Institute for their assistance and
cooperation in the project.
