The Tunisian Economy and the Democratic Transition

Zouhair Ben Larbi, Sami Ben Mansour (Tunisia)

The Economic Implications of the Arab Spring : Opportunities and Challenges for Free Markets PoliciesBeirut (Lebanon), October 19 to 22, 2011

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The tunisian economy and the democratic transition Tunisian Revolution : How everything started ..

An unemployed young man with a vegetable trolley sends Ben Ali to KSA without a trolley

Popular revolution unifying all currents under a unique motto : Freedom & Dignity

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The tunisian economy and the democratic transition Obstacles to the Private initiative and Investment Predation Economy

Mafia Phenomena

Nepotism

Failure to comply with law

Unpredictable Judiciary system

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The tunisian economy and the democratic transition Obstacles to private initiative and investment (2) Endemic corruption within public administration and business

Unequal development

Substantial bureaucracy

General Business Climate was viciated

200 000 job opportunities lost between 1995-2010

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The tunisian economy and the democratic transition Economic transition

Entrepreneurship stand by

Stagnation & contaction of the economic activity

Budget deficit + Commercial exchange overdraft

Decrease of : - Production- Investment- Currency reserve

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The tunisian economy and the democratic transition Development conditions of entrepreneurship in the new Tunisian Democracy

Private companies are the N° 1 Job creator Economic rehabilitation Integration perspectives Tunisia / Libya Renewal of the Patronat Encouragement of domestic investment Economic development favorised by international financial institutions

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The tunisian economy and the democratic transition 23 october : New Constitution to build-up Democraty

A democratic state : Transparency A state under the rule of law : clear rules and an independant justice Fight against corruption End of the grip of the Mafias on the economy Liberation of private initiative

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References

Baccar Gherib, Ayssen Makni, « Economie politique de la transition démocratique », Observatoire tunisien de la transition démocratique, October 2011

« Democratic Transition / défis socio-economic challenges : experiences international, success and retained outcome", International Round Table of the UNDP, June 3rd 2011