Tunisia's Economic Development: Why Better than Most of the Middle East but Not East Asia

(La Goulette, Tunisia, a ship in the commercial port of La Goulette)

This panel, co-organised with Hamad Bin Khalifa University, will be the launch of Tunisia's Economic Development: Why Better than Most of the Middle East but not East Asia co-authored by Mustapha K. Nabli and Jeffrey B. Nugent. This book has recently been published as part of the Routledge Political Economy of the Middle East and North Africa Series edited by Hassan Hakimian.

Since Tunisia's independence in 1956 until 2010, the country had considerable economic success relative to other countries in the MENA region but was somewhat less successful relative to East Asian countries. After the transition from autocracy to democracy in 2010, however, the country has faced significant challenges and suffered from serious economic decline.

This book provides useful insights into the factors that have enabled Tunisia’s initial success, and suggests opportunities for improving the management of economic development in Tunisia, drawing wider lessons for the MENA region. In this event, authors – both renowned experts in Middle East Economics – offer their insights into Tunisia’s relatively understudied, yet unique, economic development experience followed by critical, in-depth responses from our panellists.

To receive a 20% discount when purchasing this book, use the code EFL01 at checkout. This discount is available for individuals only, not institutions. Click here for more information. 

Mustapha K. Nabli has been Professor of Economics at the University of Tunis, Chairman of the Tunis Stock Exchange, Minister of Planning, Regional and Economic Development in the Government of Tunisia, Chief Economist and Director of the Social and Economic Development Department for the Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank, and Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia. He is the co-author of "Tunisia's Economic Development Why Better than Most of the Middle East but Not East Asia" with Jeffrey B. Nugent.

Jeffrey B. Nugent is Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California, USA. He has worked on and in various countries of both the MENA and East Asian regions including for the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He has also served on the Board of both the Cairo-based Economic Research Forum and as President of the Middle East Economic Association. His books include: "Economic Integration in Central America: Empirical Investigations", "Economics of Development: Empirical Investigations" (with Pan Yotopoulos) amongst others. He is the co-author of "Tunisia's Economic Development: Why Better than Most of the Middle East but Not East Asia" with Mustapha K. Nabli.

Leila Baghdadi is Professor of Economics at ESSECT, University of Tunis, where she holds the World Trade Organization Chair. She is an executive board member of the Central Bank of Tunisia since August 2019. She was appointed as a member of the Tunisian Council of Economic Analysis reporting to the Chief of Government from November 2017 to February 2021. Leila is a Research Fellow and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Economic Research Forum. Leila is an Associate Editor of the Middle East Development Journal. Her research interests focus on international economics.

Mohamed Ali Marouani is Associate Professor in Economics at the Sorbonne Institute of Development Studies and currently on leave as Resident Representative of the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) in Tunisia. He is Research Fellow of the Economic Research Forum and of the Migration Institute and Member of the Advisory Group of the African Evidence Network. His research focuses on structural change, migration and the socio-economic impact of crises in the MENA region.

Hassan Hakimian is Professor of Economics and Director of the Middle Eastern Studies Department (MESD) at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. During 2010-19, he was Director of the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) and Reader in the Economics Department at SOAS University of London. His research focuses on MENA economies, specifically labor markets, economic sanctions, inclusive growth and the economics of Arab uprisings.

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