Israel says that their military conscription indeed lowers some class barriers and helps the "startup nation" work.

Details matter. If a conscription term lasts for 9 months and the richest people do their best to get their offspring exempted (which is how it worked in Czechia prior to professionalization of the army), I am not surprised by the lack of overall effect.

If a conscription term lasts 3 years and the local elite feels compelled to take part (Israel), the effect may be much bigger.

Note that college is closer to the latter in its parameters.

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seydor 6 days ago | parent [-]

Israel's success is because it teaches people leadership and risk taking , not because it mingles them with dumb money. There are studies about it e.g. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289369969_The_effec...

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inglor_cz 6 days ago | parent [-]

Maybe more countries should attempt to teach people leadership... if this is true, it looks like a fairly low-hanging fruit to be plucked.

	▲	gampleman 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		Talking to some older Czechs who experienced the system, perhaps teaching people … anything at all would prove superior. Apparently the worst thing about it was the complete disrespect for people’s time and talent.