Lifestyle and economy of Tunisia

Tunisians have much in common with their Italian neighbors. If they focus as much to academic success, professional and material, they also enjoy the pleasures of everyday life, like good food, the hammam and the sea, the smell of jasmine, and the evening walk to discuss with friends and enjoy a mint tea.

The family is also a central role in Tunisia. If extended families are less likely to live under the same roof, the common meal is always the most important event of the week for most Tunisians, even if it means traveling long distances. Religion is also paramount and religious festivals punctuate the calendar. However, faith is a private, individual choices about how to practice are respected both within the family and the community. It is not uncommon to see two sisters walking together, one in jeans and T-shirt tight, the hair falling on the shoulders and the other wearing a long tunic and a veil (with equal aesthetic concern). The modern secular values ​​are no less important than the Qur'an.

Since independence, the Tunisian population has more than doubled and became city to nearly 70%. Highly educated, middle class, which is an important part of the population, seeking inspiration in the fields of culture and fashion, both in Europe and the Arab world.

Because of protectionist policies, most goods found in Tunisia, from shoes to sofas, to food, are produced in Tunisia and especially international brands shine by their absence. There are some exceptions, such as automobiles, mobile phones, counterfeiting of branded bags, food giants such as Danone and Coca-Cola, music (including commercial R & B and pop and techno Arab ) and television. However, despite the great popularity of hypermarkets like Carrefour, Tunisians continue to make the most of their shopping in the grocery 200,000 of the country and in the souks.
While Tunisia is often given as an example to emerging economies - it provides its citizens with an excellent education, free medical care and retirement pensions and disability - the unemployment rate is around 14%, a figure is even higher among young people. Remain unemployed is difficult, especially when we know that marriage is expensive, that cohabitation is theoretically illegal and sex outside of marriage is for women in any case inadmissible. Many young adults are thus locked in the family long after their strict adolescence. The country's economy, which depends on industry and tourism, suffered the brunt of the global financial crisis of late 2000. However, the labor market is likely to leave at the same time as the global economy through the growth of the offshore services sector.