Jacob Metzer. Photo: Open Letter.

Jacob Metzer

Economist and Academic

Israeli academic Jacob Metzer is one of his country’s leading economists, having published widely on the economic aspects of building a Jewish state, and having taught at some of the world’s most prestigious campuses, among them Stanford, Northwestern and the London School of Economics. In his current role as president of Israel’s Open University, Metzer heads an institution that has massively expanded enrolment within the poorer demographics of Israel society – in the last seven years, the number of Arab students at the Open University has increased by 77 per cent, with a near 100 per cent increase among ultra-Orthodox students – on the basis of an unwavering commitment to an open admissions policy.