Around 27.5 Billion Dinars Are Currently Evading Tunisia’s Organized Banking System
Behind this monetary hemorrhage, an economist points to the direct responsibility of two recent legislative texts that were adopted without sufficient impact studies.
It is on his Facebook account that Ridha Chkoundali, university professor and economist, presented his diagnosis.
The Legislative Triggers
According to Chkoundali, the entry into force of the law on checks and the roll‑out of electronic invoicing, combined with the repeal of the provision that prohibited cash transactions above 5,000 dinars, have together fueled a notable rise in cash circulating outside the banking sector.
Consequences on Multiple Levels
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Public Treasury bears the brunt – Deprived of the financial flows that previously passed through the formal system, the Treasury finds itself in a structurally losing position.
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Bank deposits shrink, limiting credit – “The drop in liquidity in banks reduces their natural role, which is to provide credit to the private sector,” the expert emphasizes.
A Call for Legislative Revision
Beyond this short‑term diagnosis, Ridha Chkoundali issues a demand to the legislative authority. He argues that these malfunctions reveal a hasty norm‑making process with regressive effects:
“Poorly drafted laws push the Tunisian economy backward.”
He therefore urges the Assembly of the People’s Representatives to launch a review of certain existing statutes.
Source: Facebook post by economist Ridha Chkoundali
