Volume 3 Issue 1 | 2026 | View PDF
Paper Id:IJMSM-V3I1P109
doi: 10.71141/30485037/V3I1P109

The Informal Economy in Tunisia: Current Situation, Challenges, and Stakes, Case of the City of Kasserine

Sabrine Mansouri, Ali Elloumi

Citation:
Sabrine Mansouri, Ali Elloumi, "The Informal Economy in Tunisia: Current Situation, Challenges, and Stakes, Case of the City of Kasserine" International Journal of Multidisciplinary on Science and Management, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 74-88, 2026.

Abstract:
This article is set in a controversial context marked by the dichotomy between formal (official) and informal (clandestine) activities. In the Tunisian case, the informal sector is of crucial importance, illustrated by revealing figures: nearly 40% of employment in the Tunisian private sector is active in the informal economy. Our research focuses on the city of Kasserine, where we analyze the role of the informal sector both economically and socially, while highlighting the impact of the social upheavals following the revolution. The issue underlying this study is based on the following paradox: the informal sector embodies both survival economy strategies and illegal activities that fall within the logic of economic crime. To address this issue, we have chosen a methodology based on three complementary sociological approaches: the semi-directive interview, the case study, and participant observation. These methods allow us to explore the social interactions and power structures that shape the informal sector, while taking into account the dynamics of solidarity and resilience that manifest within it.

Keywords: Informal Sector, Survival Economy, Economic Crime, Social Upheavals, Social Interactions, Resilience, Solidarity.

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