Ricardo's Rent

 Alex Tabarrok writes: 

Why has housing become so expensive in high-productivity places? It is true that there are geographic constraints (Manhattan isn’t getting any bigger) but zoning and other land-use restrictions including historical and environmental “protection” are reducing the amount of land available for housing and how much building can be done on a given piece of land. As a result, in places with lots of restrictions on land use, increased demand for housing shows up mostly in house prices rather than in house quantities.

The prices in Israel are prohibitive, especially in Tel Aviv.  The apparent reason is that Israelis are earning good wages and saving and investing. Old-timers that invested in real estate are rich and harvesting the rent produced by the success of the country. 

Great Powers Politics weighs upon Israel

 

America has decided to combat China's progress towards economic supremacy and to punish Russia for impeding the expansion of NATO. Israel has international bidding to build the Haifa Nazareth light train line. Suddenly, the Chinese and Russian companies withdraw their offers or, probably, were rejected. Israel will pay more for this infrastructure and the quality will be inferior. This stupid blackballing is costing us a lot. But I understand that we must obey the orders of our leader - America. 

God Save Me from those Jewish Girls

 

Today there is a Flag Parade in Jerusalem. Thousands visited the Mosque up on the hill. The police were present to ensure that there was no violence. 

It was agreed that there would be no praying in the Muslim area. Anyway, some appeared to worship in the sacred spot.

Self Motivation

 

Sweating the Regulation

 

The permitting process in Israel has evolved and a monstrous industry of compliance with regulation has appeared. I am part of this industry and can attest that it has grown increasingly difficult to transit through. The preparation of the submittal for a small, rural coffee shop took me six months, with successive rejects and refinements. Even today it is not complete, the Ministry of Health demands proof of origin of the water, and the Client has not sent me yet a water bill. I am losing interest in this odious line of work. 

This book examines a range of different British regulatory bodies, including the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the Food Standards Agency, the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, the regulators for health and social care, and the regulators covering communications, energy, rail, and water. 

For the Record: 12.23 and I did not start even reading the Requirements דרישות of the regulator, dated December 13, 2021. And not I am going to take my siesta. I have no excuse.

PS: Went to the bed at 1.00 AM

Intrepid Potash

 
Intrepid Potash averaged $703 per ton for potash sales in the first quarter, more than double the $284 per ton it averaged on sales a year ago. Intrepid Potash shares have added about 79.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -13.3%. I think this year it will achieve 1200 US$/ton. 

I know what I have to do. 

Pic.: The Moab evaporation ponds. 

The first step is the most difficult

 

Another day. I have urgent work to do. It is 11 AM and still could not force myself to sit and concentrate and start working. 

Post Date: 19-5-22 1230 hs. Another day. Slept badly, dreamed that Ilana Ben Ami takes exams for my daughters and me, and Nomi fails but it is not important. OK, let's start the working day with the Moshav Matzliah bakery. The pills are working and I have a low BP of 100/65  and am without energy.