Scoping of the Tunisian economy

In this scooping paper on the Tunisian economy we review the historical background of the economy which has undergone substantial structural change since independence in 1956. In particular we emphasize that past record of consistent growth has often masked inequality, regional disparities and high unemployment rates among educated youth. We then evaluate the performance of the manufacturing industry over the past five decades in terms of exports, production and foreign direct investment. We conclude with a review of the main industrial policies undertaken by the government since independence.