*  *  *  When I decided, several weeks ago, to accept the invitation to participate in this Conference, I did not know that it would be my first lecture following my appointment as Governor of the Bank of Israel.
Nonetheless, I am very happy that the hand of fate has led to my speaking here today, two days after the government’s decision to appoint me as Governor, and economic advisor to the government, because I believe that this Conference deals with one of the most important issues on the socioeconomic agenda in the State of Israel.