تحولات الاقتصاد التونسي (1961-2021 ) من منوال التعاضد إلى تعثّر الانتقال الديمقراطي

Transformations of the Tunisian Economy (1961-2021): From the Mutualist Model to the Stalled Democratic Transition! University professor of economics, Ridha Chkandali, presented an analytical reading of the transformations of the Tunisian economy between 1961 and 2021, highlighting that Tunisia achieved respectable growth rates over 60 years, but failed to translate this growth into comprehensive development and social justice. The study divided the history of the Tunisian economy into four main phases: The 1960s: The adoption of the cooperative model under Ahmed Ben Salah, but it failed due to its imposition by force, mismanagement, drought, and high debt. The 1970s: Tunisia experienced strong growth of around 7.5% thanks to economic liberalization and high oil prices, but it was fragile growth based on cheap labor and circumstantial factors. The 1980s to 2010: The implementation of structural reforms restored financial balances, but growth remained uneven, with rising unemployment, regional disparities, and corruption. The post-2011 period: The country experienced a severe economic crisis due to the absence of a clear economic vision to support the democratic transition, leading to increased unemployment, public debt, and the decline of several sectors. Chkandali emphasized that the fundamental problem lies in the continuation of the same economic model since the 1970s, based on cheap labor, without adapting it to keep pace with educational and demographic shifts. The study concluded that democracy cannot be stable without equitable development, youth employment, regional justice, and linking political reform to improving citizens' living conditions. Details with Professor of Economics Reda Chkandali #EFM_LeMagExpress