Political
Transition and the Economy
While Tunisian Politicians Bicker, Nation’s Economy Remains
Dormant
Despite some pockets of positive news, the Tunisian economy
continues to struggle under the weight of a traumatic political
transition. The leadership in government remains deeply
divided and focused on the internal political infighting,
preventing decision makers from building the bases of economic
growth.
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How
to Rule by Proxy
The
King’s Eyes and Ears in the Moroccan Provinces
The
latest revision of the Moroccan constitution is supposed
to provide more power to the representatives of the people
and reduce the Monarchy's prerogatives. Still, the monarchy
remains unchallenged, having created a system that essentially
controls virtually everything, directly and through the
so-called Makhzen system. Among the front-line defenders
of the monarchy's dominance over Moroccans are 17 men, no
single woman, who were appointed to administer the provinces.
They were not voted in nor selected by the people, nor were
they appointed by the semi-autonomous Prime Minister. In
fact, they were appointed by the powerful Interior Minister
who reports directly to the King.
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A
Continuity PM
Algeria
President Names New PM Amid Drastic Economic Environment
Algeria’s
President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika has appointed a loyal ally
Abdelmalek Sellal as new Prime Minister, to replace Ahmed
Ouyahia. The change was planned for a while but the decision
took a long time as a consensus had to first emerge among
the leadership in the regime. Ouyahia’s resignation
is another step for him to position himself ahead of the
upcoming presidential race.
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Trade
& Markets
Counterfeit
Goods Invade North Africa, Industry Poorly Coordinated
North
African customs are facing a deluge of counterfeit products
entering their markets. In Algeria, the
customs office (Direction Générale des Douanes
or DGD) reports that the amount of counterfeit products
rose by a stunning 84.5% in 2011, compared to 2010. The
DGD is either overwhelmed by such inflow of illegal products
or does not have enough incentives to launch a full crackdown.
In neighboring Morocco, the situation is
no better, so much so that multinational corporations that
own well-known consumer brands have been busy cracking down
on the counterfeit market themselves. It’s not just
consumer brands that are struggling with counterfeit, but
it also extends to more sophisticated products like computer
software, laptops and printers’ cartridges. And it
is not just the brands that are suffering from the problem.
Consumers are cheated, believing that they are actually
purchasing the real deal.
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Competing
for Africa
Is
China’s Africa’s Economic Campaign Unstoppable?
On
July 19, 2012, Chinese officials announced the doubling
of the amount of credits allocated to Africa to $20 billion.
The money is to be spent on infrastructure, agriculture
and industrial projects. The year 2008 was an important
year, during which trade between China and Africa exceeded
the $100 billion mark. But Chinese activities in Africa
are not evenly distributed among African nations or sectors.
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Urban
Development & North African Cities:
Casablanca
Invests in Transport Infrastructure
North
Africa’s largest cities face the same problems as
their Western counterparts. Heavy traffics that are the
result of a growing middle class with disposable incomes,
combined with a public transportation system that is unable
to cope with high demand, are making the lives of residents
difficult, if not miserable. While Casablanca remains one
of the best planned cities in North Africa, residents still
complain about the difficulties they face in moving about.
Their problems come largely from the explosion in a number
of construction projects in and around the city, projects
launched precisely to help them cope with the traffic problem.
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Tunisia’s
Estate Market and Foreign Investors:
Between
Libyan Fear and Spanish Attractiveness
The
real estate market in Tunisia is displaying mixed signals.
Pockets of growth in the housing market continue to drive
prices up, but these houses were designed for foreign investors
and wealthy Tunisians. In contrast, the average Tunisian
is priced out of these desirable real estate sites as their
incomes do not meet the continuously rising prices in regions
that have been insulated from the political crisis facing
the country for the past two years. The northern suburbs
of the capital Tunis has the most expansive real estate
in the nation. The proximity to Mediterranean beaches, vibrant
nightlife, and established economy, make places like the
mythical Carthage, Sidi Bousaïd, Marsa, and La Goulette
some of the most desirable locations in North Africa, with
an average price per square meter (psm) hovering between
TND 1,160 in Kram and TND 2,600 Sidi Boussaid, representing
three times the national average.
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