Editorial – Cross-country race | L’Economiste

Here’s the good news: the Moroccan economy is holding up well. According to the OECD’s latest economic outlook report, growth is set to remain strong in 2025 and 2026.

Despite external shocks (climate, geopolitical uncertainties), the economy is showing a capacity to bounce back, thanks to key sectors such as tourism and industry.

Tax reforms have stabilized the budget deficit. In addition, domestic and foreign investment is essential to stimulate growth.

But all is not rosy. Unemployment, especially among young people and women, continues unabated. The informal sector, that other “ economic and social model ”, is growing and trapping large numbers of people in precarious jobs.

For years, inaction on this issue has swelled the ranks of this phenomenon, supported by the latest study from the High Commissioner’s office for Planning (HCP).

Another major issue is corruption, which is costing the country a staggering 3.5% to 6% of GDP. Enough to make any public budget dream.

And then there’s education and training, those engines that are still struggling to transform an ebullient youth into a productive force.

And then there’s the frustration and fed-up feeling caused by incivism, decaying values, inefficiency, incompetence, preferential treatment, and lagging reforms…. In fact, everything that hinders development, weakens social cohesion, and penalizes the country.

In other areas, efforts and progress are undeniably being made, but the end of the tunnel is not in sight. Without indulging in theorizing, we still have a real long-distance race ahead of us, and a lot of breathing to do.