For several years now, the concept of the middle class has been central to economic analyses and political discourse in Tunisia. It is often portrayed as the pillar of social stability, the driving force behind consumption, and one of the cornerstones of the social contract. Yet behind this term lies a far more complex reality. The growing vulnerability of the middle class is not merely an economic phenomenon: it now raises a fundamental human rights issue.
A recent policy brief published by the Association of Tunisian Economists (ASECTU), titled “When Crises Reshape the Middle Class in Tunisia: Revealed Vulnerabilities and Resilience in Action, ” highlights the scale of the social transformations currently underway. According to the study, the accumulation of economic, social, and environmental crises is placing increasing pressure on households that were previously considered part of the middle class.
A vague category that masks social inequalities
The concept of the middle class is often used as an indicator of social stability. However, in critical approaches to political economy and sociology, this category is widely contested. It encompasses very different social groups—salaried managers, civil servants, technicians, and small business owners—who do not share the same resources or the same safety nets.
This statistical category can sometimes mask a harsher reality: that of a society marked by deep economic inequalities and the growing vulnerability of workers and households.
From a human rights perspective, the central issue is not so much how many people belong to the middle class, but rather whether living conditions actually ensure the fundamental economic, social, and cultural rights recognized by the international instruments ratified by Tunisia, including:
- the right to an adequate standard of living,
- the right to social security,
- the right to work and to fair compensation,
- the right to education, health care, and housing.
The erosion of purchasing power and the challenge to the right to a decent standard of living
The ASECTU study shows that the Tunisian middle class cannot be defined solely by income. It also depends on job stability, access to essential services, and the ability to maintain a certain standard of living.
Yet these three pillars are now under threat.
Persistent inflation, rising service costs, shortages of essential goods, and increasing tax burdens are leading to a rapid erosion of purchasing power. Households living above the poverty line now face a real risk of social decline.
This development raises a key issue from a human rights perspective: that of respect for the right to an adequate standard of living, as recognized by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
His coping strategies reveal a structural vulnerability
In the face of deteriorating economic conditions, many households are developing coping strategies to maintain their standard of living.
The study highlights several mechanisms:
- revenue diversification,
- the increased reliance on the informal economy,
- strengthening family bonds,
- and the rise in migration.
While these strategies help cushion economic shocks, they also reflect growing structural insecurity. The rise in informal economic activity undermines access to social protection, while the migration of skilled workers contributes to a brain drain and the erosion of national human capital.
The growing vulnerability of the middle class: a matter of social justice
The current transformation of Tunisia's social structure points to a troubling trend: the growing polarization of society.
While a minority continues to enjoy relative economic security, a growing number of households that were once considered middle class are experiencing a gradual decline in their standard of living.
This trend raises a fundamental question of social justice and national cohesion. In many societies, the middle class plays a crucial role in political stability, investment in education, and economic growth. Its weakening can contribute to heightened social tensions and a loss of trust in institutions.
Maintain the middle class , a matter of rights humanisins
The ASECTU report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive public response to strengthen household resilience and prevent a lasting deterioration in social conditions.
Preserving the intermediate layers involves, in particular:
- strengthening social protection,
- securing career paths,
- improving access to financing and essential services,
- and harnessing the potential of the diaspora through policies on circular migration and skills transfer.
From this perspective, the gradual formalization of the informal economy and support for self-employment can also help expand economic opportunities and improve access to social rights.
Beyond the Middle Class: Rebuilding the Social Contract
The central issue, therefore, is not merely that of the “middle class” as a sociological category. It relates more broadly to Tunisian society’s ability to guarantee the economic and social rights of all its citizens.
Against a backdrop of inflation, inequality, and economic uncertainty, the growing vulnerability of the middle class serves as a warning sign. It serves as a reminder that social stability and human dignity depend above all on the effective protection of fundamental rights.
Safeguarding these rights is not merely a matter of economic policy. It is also a democratic imperative and a commitment enshrined in Tunisia’s international human rights obligations.
