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| Economic Frustration Simmers Again in Tunisia | Economic Frustration Simmers Again in Tunisia |
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| TUNIS — Tahar Bayahi, who runs Tunisia’s largest grocery store chain, spent the days right after the revolution toting up his losses: one-quarter of his 60 stores nationwide incinerated and another quarter pillaged. | TUNIS — Tahar Bayahi, who runs Tunisia’s largest grocery store chain, spent the days right after the revolution toting up his losses: one-quarter of his 60 stores nationwide incinerated and another quarter pillaged. |
| Yet his company, Magasin Général, turned right around to rebuild, pouring $40 million and nine months into the effort. “It’s true that we were badly affected, but it opened up a far larger horizon,” Mr. Bayahi said over lunch on a sunny lakeside terrace. “What was important was that the change would bring us to a new epoch much faster.” | |
| Nearly two years after riots that began over economic frustration and unemployment toppled the Tunisian government and started the Arab Spring, the frustration that people here are not better off is starting to overflow again. The gross domestic product is down, unemployment is up, debt and inflation are growing and social unrest is simmering. | Nearly two years after riots that began over economic frustration and unemployment toppled the Tunisian government and started the Arab Spring, the frustration that people here are not better off is starting to overflow again. The gross domestic product is down, unemployment is up, debt and inflation are growing and social unrest is simmering. |
| Last week, the government sent troops into Siliana, south of the capital, after four days of violent protests, mainly over demands for jobs and more government investment, turned violent. Thousands participated and hundreds were injured in clashes with the police. | Last week, the government sent troops into Siliana, south of the capital, after four days of violent protests, mainly over demands for jobs and more government investment, turned violent. Thousands participated and hundreds were injured in clashes with the police. |
| President Moncef Marzouki, acknowledging Friday on television that the government had not “met the expectations of the people,” expressed concern that unrest could spread to other towns in the underdeveloped interior. | President Moncef Marzouki, acknowledging Friday on television that the government had not “met the expectations of the people,” expressed concern that unrest could spread to other towns in the underdeveloped interior. |
| “Tunisia today is at a crossroads,” he said. “Tunisia today has an opportunity that it must not miss to be a model because the world is watching us, and we mustn’t disappoint.” | “Tunisia today is at a crossroads,” he said. “Tunisia today has an opportunity that it must not miss to be a model because the world is watching us, and we mustn’t disappoint.” |
| Unemployment remains the biggest economic problem and catalyst for unrest. A vicious circle imperils all the Arab nations with unfinished revolutions: political unrest scares off the investors needed to create jobs. | Unemployment remains the biggest economic problem and catalyst for unrest. A vicious circle imperils all the Arab nations with unfinished revolutions: political unrest scares off the investors needed to create jobs. |
| Since President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted in January 2011, the unemployment rate has risen to 18 percent from 13 percent, meaning about 750,000 people are out of work. | Since President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted in January 2011, the unemployment rate has risen to 18 percent from 13 percent, meaning about 750,000 people are out of work. |
| More troubling, a third of the unemployed are college graduates, said Said Aidi, minister of the economy for much of 2011. By 2015, an estimated 100,000 new graduates will seek jobs annually, while even before the revolution at most 20,000 graduates a year found work matching their degrees. | More troubling, a third of the unemployed are college graduates, said Said Aidi, minister of the economy for much of 2011. By 2015, an estimated 100,000 new graduates will seek jobs annually, while even before the revolution at most 20,000 graduates a year found work matching their degrees. |
| “Ben Ali ignored the blinking red lights on the economy, and that is what got him thrown out,” said Karim Ben Smail, the owner of a modest publishing company. “The unemployed are an army in a country the size of Tunisia.” | “Ben Ali ignored the blinking red lights on the economy, and that is what got him thrown out,” said Karim Ben Smail, the owner of a modest publishing company. “The unemployed are an army in a country the size of Tunisia.” |
| The numbers are not all bad, however. The economy contracted by 1.8 percent in 2011, troubled by problems like a 30 percent drop in the number of tourists, according to the World Bank. It predicts 2.2 percent growth this year, and a close-to-normal 4.6 percent by 2014 should conditions stabilize. | The numbers are not all bad, however. The economy contracted by 1.8 percent in 2011, troubled by problems like a 30 percent drop in the number of tourists, according to the World Bank. It predicts 2.2 percent growth this year, and a close-to-normal 4.6 percent by 2014 should conditions stabilize. |
| But a new constitution has yet to be written, and elections have been postponed until at least next June. Periodic riots — especially the sacking of the United States Embassy in September in response to a video made in the United States mocking the Prophet Muhammad — have left investors sitting on their wallets and kept tourists at home. A State Department travel advisory warned Americans against visiting Tunisia. | But a new constitution has yet to be written, and elections have been postponed until at least next June. Periodic riots — especially the sacking of the United States Embassy in September in response to a video made in the United States mocking the Prophet Muhammad — have left investors sitting on their wallets and kept tourists at home. A State Department travel advisory warned Americans against visiting Tunisia. |
| Bracing for further unrest, Magasin Général rebuilt its stores with shatterproof glass, heavy metal shutters and 20-foot walls topped by barbed wire. | |
| Before the revolution, the company felt disadvantaged because its closest competitors, franchises of the giant French retailers Carrefour and Monoprix, enjoyed closer ties to the ruling family, Mr. Bayahi said. Both opened superstores while his applications languished. | Before the revolution, the company felt disadvantaged because its closest competitors, franchises of the giant French retailers Carrefour and Monoprix, enjoyed closer ties to the ruling family, Mr. Bayahi said. Both opened superstores while his applications languished. |
| After the revolution, he expected permits to sail through, particularly since his two proposed superstores meant more than 1,400 jobs. Instead, officials tell him “it is being studied,” just like before the revolution, he said. | After the revolution, he expected permits to sail through, particularly since his two proposed superstores meant more than 1,400 jobs. Instead, officials tell him “it is being studied,” just like before the revolution, he said. |
| While Mr. Bayahi blamed a combination of government incompetence and foot dragging for the delay, economic experts cited an additional reason. Small neighborhood shops potentially hurt by big chains extend credit to poor customers, helping to maintain social peace. | While Mr. Bayahi blamed a combination of government incompetence and foot dragging for the delay, economic experts cited an additional reason. Small neighborhood shops potentially hurt by big chains extend credit to poor customers, helping to maintain social peace. |
| Blame for the economic doldrums is focused on the Renaissance Party, a centrist Islamist party that dominates the transitional governing coalition. Critics say the party lacks financial expertise and is so focused on putting an Islamic stamp on the new constitution that it has neglected developing even a rudimentary economic vision. | Blame for the economic doldrums is focused on the Renaissance Party, a centrist Islamist party that dominates the transitional governing coalition. Critics say the party lacks financial expertise and is so focused on putting an Islamic stamp on the new constitution that it has neglected developing even a rudimentary economic vision. |
| Its promise to create 20,000 new public-sector jobs was criticized as compounding the problem. “They are learning how to run the machine while operating it,” said Cyril G. Karray, the author of a book on Tunisia’s woes called “The Next War in Tunisia — Victory in 5 Battles.” | Its promise to create 20,000 new public-sector jobs was criticized as compounding the problem. “They are learning how to run the machine while operating it,” said Cyril G. Karray, the author of a book on Tunisia’s woes called “The Next War in Tunisia — Victory in 5 Battles.” |
| Senior officials say the public is expecting too much too fast. “It’s like you get married and you want a baby boy with blue eyes one month later,” said Abdelfattah Mouru, a Renaissance Party founder. “It is not up to the government alone to make the rain and the sunshine.” | Senior officials say the public is expecting too much too fast. “It’s like you get married and you want a baby boy with blue eyes one month later,” said Abdelfattah Mouru, a Renaissance Party founder. “It is not up to the government alone to make the rain and the sunshine.” |
| Realistically, Tunisia needs three to five years to see a change in employment prospects, both politicians and economists said. The question is whether social unrest can be tamed for that long. | Realistically, Tunisia needs three to five years to see a change in employment prospects, both politicians and economists said. The question is whether social unrest can be tamed for that long. |
| There have been discussions about dusting off an economic development plan commissioned from the consulting company McKinsey several years ago, Mr. Aidi, the former minister, said. It recommended that Tunisia foster new economic sectors and concentrate some in the interior. They included renewable energy, biotechnology and logistics, taking advantage of Tunisia’s proximity to Europe to become a shipment point for much of North and West Africa. | There have been discussions about dusting off an economic development plan commissioned from the consulting company McKinsey several years ago, Mr. Aidi, the former minister, said. It recommended that Tunisia foster new economic sectors and concentrate some in the interior. They included renewable energy, biotechnology and logistics, taking advantage of Tunisia’s proximity to Europe to become a shipment point for much of North and West Africa. |
| Tunisian companies have established a successful auto parts sector and call centers, for example. Mail order and help lines for the French-speaking world have generated 25,000 jobs and could create many more, Mr. Aidi said. | Tunisian companies have established a successful auto parts sector and call centers, for example. Mail order and help lines for the French-speaking world have generated 25,000 jobs and could create many more, Mr. Aidi said. |
| The problem has always been raising money. | The problem has always been raising money. |
| The G-8 major economies, meeting in Deauville, France, in the first flush of the Arab Spring, generated huge expectations by pledging, along with richer oil states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, some $40 billion to the nascent democracies. Nothing close materialized. | The G-8 major economies, meeting in Deauville, France, in the first flush of the Arab Spring, generated huge expectations by pledging, along with richer oil states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, some $40 billion to the nascent democracies. Nothing close materialized. |
| The World Bank approved a $500 million loan on Tuesday to help carry out economic reform and spur job creation. | The World Bank approved a $500 million loan on Tuesday to help carry out economic reform and spur job creation. |
| The United States has given about $300 million since the revolution, and the European Union has provided $400 million over two years. Qatar bought an entire $500 million bond issue this year. | The United States has given about $300 million since the revolution, and the European Union has provided $400 million over two years. Qatar bought an entire $500 million bond issue this year. |
| “You can have the most beautifully designed program, but if the investors are not there to invest in green energy and so on, you will not see any results,” said Mustapha K. Nabli, Tunisia’s former Central Bank governor. | “You can have the most beautifully designed program, but if the investors are not there to invest in green energy and so on, you will not see any results,” said Mustapha K. Nabli, Tunisia’s former Central Bank governor. |
| This is especially true in the interior, the wellspring of the revolution not least because economic development lagged. The anger remains palpable. “We will burn Sidi Bouzeid once again!” a young man shouted to a visiting foreigner in the central town where the protests began. | This is especially true in the interior, the wellspring of the revolution not least because economic development lagged. The anger remains palpable. “We will burn Sidi Bouzeid once again!” a young man shouted to a visiting foreigner in the central town where the protests began. |
| Against hope, young entrepreneur workshops have become ubiquitous. In Sidi Bouzeid one recent weekend, teams competed to propose a viable business plan for a new company. | Against hope, young entrepreneur workshops have become ubiquitous. In Sidi Bouzeid one recent weekend, teams competed to propose a viable business plan for a new company. |
| Asked about work before the revolution, Naily Amine, 30, said, “My job was leaning against the wall, waiting for work.” | Asked about work before the revolution, Naily Amine, 30, said, “My job was leaning against the wall, waiting for work.” |
| Five years ago, armed with a college degree in industrial maintenance, he tried to start a company to recycle plastic waste into pipes for agricultural irrigation. Mr. Amine, a slight man with black hair, worked harvesting tomatoes, fixing cars and in construction while chasing the $6,000 he needed so the bank would lend him $60,000. He was sure the revolution would transform his lot. “I expected investment to grow, for the unemployment problem to be solved,” he said. | Five years ago, armed with a college degree in industrial maintenance, he tried to start a company to recycle plastic waste into pipes for agricultural irrigation. Mr. Amine, a slight man with black hair, worked harvesting tomatoes, fixing cars and in construction while chasing the $6,000 he needed so the bank would lend him $60,000. He was sure the revolution would transform his lot. “I expected investment to grow, for the unemployment problem to be solved,” he said. |
| Instead, hurdles multiplied. Before, only ruling family cronies seemed to get the industrial park land for factories. When Mr. Amine tried to meet the new governor to ask about land now, he could not even make an appointment. The staff was always on strike. | Instead, hurdles multiplied. Before, only ruling family cronies seemed to get the industrial park land for factories. When Mr. Amine tried to meet the new governor to ask about land now, he could not even make an appointment. The staff was always on strike. |
| The unemployment office promised to match investors with projects, and for the first year after the revolution Mr. Amine went faithfully each week to sign in. Now he often skips it. | The unemployment office promised to match investors with projects, and for the first year after the revolution Mr. Amine went faithfully each week to sign in. Now he often skips it. |
| “Nothing has changed since the revolution,” he said gloomily. “If anything there are more problems — there is just a lot of confusion.” | “Nothing has changed since the revolution,” he said gloomily. “If anything there are more problems — there is just a lot of confusion.” |
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | |
| Correction: December 2, 2012 | |
An earlier version of this article misstated the name of Tunisia’s largest grocery store chain. It is Magasin Général, not Magasins Général. |