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Contribution of Structural Change to Productivity Growth: Evidence from Tunisia

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Ali Marouani

    (UMR « Développement et Société », IEDES / Université Paris1-Panthéon-Sorbonne, ERF, PSL, Université Paris-Dauphine, LEDa, IRD UMR DIAL)

  • Rim Mouelhi

    (ISCAE, La Manouba University, LEFA Carthage and ERF)

Abstract

The objective of the paper is to analyze the dynamics of sectoral productivity growth in Tunisia and assess the contribution of structural change to these dynamics. Using sectoral and firm data we show that productivity increased at a relatively sustained pace in Tunisia in the last three decades, but that the contribution of structural change remained limited. Trade and labor market reforms did not seem to increase it. The main reasons are barriers to entry in some sectors, the inefficiency of factor markets, and the focus of the firms’ upgrading program only on some selected sectors. _________________________________ L’objectif de ce papier est d’analyser la dynamique de la croissance sectorielle de la productivité en Tunisie et d’évaluer la contribution du changement structurel à cette dynamique. En utilisant des données sectorielles et de firmes nous montrons que la productivité a augmenté à un rythme relativement soutenu au cours des trois dernières décennies, mais que la contribution du changement structurel est restée limitée. Les réformes de la politique commerciale et du marché du travail ne semblent pas l’avoir affectée. Les principales raisons sont les barrières à l’entrée dans certains secteurs, l’inefficacité des marchés des facteurs et la focalisation du programme de mise à niveau sur un petit nombre de secteurs.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Ali Marouani & Rim Mouelhi, 2015. "Contribution of Structural Change to Productivity Growth: Evidence from Tunisia," Working Papers DT/2015/06, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    • Handle: RePEc:dia:wpaper:dt201506
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohamed Amara & Khaled Thabet, 2019. "Firm and regional factors of productivity: a multilevel analysis of Tunisian manufacturing," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 63(1), pages 25-51, August.
    2. Longcan Zou & Jim Huangnan Shen & Jun Zhang & Chien‐Chiang Lee, 2022. "What is the rationale behind China's infrastructure investment under the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 605-633, July.
    3. Mijiyawa,Abdoul Ganiou & Conde,Lancine, 2020. "Structural Change and Productivity Growth in Guinea," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9341, The World Bank.
    4. Gunes Arkadas Asik & Mohamed Ali Marouani & Michelle Marshalian & Ulas Karakoc, 2018. "Productivity, Structural Change and Skills Dynamics in Tunisia and Turkey," Working Papers 1269, Economic Research Forum, revised 10 Dec 2018.
    5. Mohamed Ali Marouani & Gunes Asik & Ulas Karakoc & Michelle Marshalian, 2020. "Productivity, structural change, and skills dynamics. Evidence from a half-century analysis," Working Papers hal-04001052, HAL.
    6. Mohamed Amara, 2023. "Agglomeration and firm performance in times of economic turmoil: Evidence from Tunisian firm‐level data," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 446-481, June.
    7. Gunes Asik & Ulas Karakoc & Mohamed Ali Marouani & Michelle Marshalian, 2019. "Productivity, structural change and skills dynamics: Evidence from a half century analysis in Tunisia and Turkey," Working Papers 20190001, UMR Développement et Sociétés, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement.
    8. Monia Ghazali and Rim Mouelhi, 2018. "The Employment Intensity of Growth: Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 43(3), pages 85-118, September.
    9. Carlos Bianchi & Fernando Isabella & Anaclara Martinis & Santiago Picasso, 2023. "Varieties of middle-income trap: heterogeneous trajectories and common determinants," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 23-16, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    10. Hanan Morsy & Antoine Levy, 2020. "Growing without changing: A tale of Egypt's weak productivity growth," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(3), pages 271-287, September.
    11. Mohamed Amara, 2019. "Firm Performance and Agglomeration Effects: Evidence from Tunisian Firm-level Data," Working Papers 1297, Economic Research Forum, revised 2019.
    12. Mohamed Ali Marouani & Minh-Phuong Le & Michelle Marshalian, 2020. "Jobs, earnings, and routine-task occupational change in times of revolution: The Tunisian perspective," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-171, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    13. Rim Ben Ayed Mouelhi & Monia Ghazali, 2021. "Structural transformation in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia: Patterns, drivers and constraints," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 35-61, January.
    14. Moussir, Charaf-Eddine & Chatri, Abdellatif, 2020. "Structural change and labour productivity growth in Morocco," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 353-358.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Productivity; Structural Change; Employment; Tunisia; Productivité; changement structurel; emploi; Tunisie.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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