An economic recipe for unrest ignites in Tunisia

Blistering youth unemployment, mounting government debt, corruption and COVID are spurring unrest in Tunisia.

A lack of opportunity, especially for young people. Punishing debt. A broken social contract. Pandemic pressures making it all so much worse. This economic recipe is nourishing social and political unrest throughout the world this year. South Africa experienced it earlier this month. Cuba, too. Now it’s Tunisia’s turn. Each of these countries has its own unique set of circumstances. But in the context of the Middle East and North Africa, the stakes for Tunisia feel very high.