Development of a Social Accounting Matrix: A Tool for Assessing Water Policy in Tunisia

This paper presents the procedures for constructing a social accounting matrix (SAM) for Tunisia for 2015, called SAM-WATER 2015. The general structure of the matrix, the stages of development, and the different sources of data used are presented. The purpose of this matrix is to provide an up-to-date database that can be used by Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models to simulate the socioeconomic impact of Tunisian water policy, and in particular irrigation water, to address the many problems that this sector suffers. Furthermore, this research focuses in particular on the role that recycled wastewater, as an unconventional water source, can play in this policy. The main features of this research are twofold. First, the production factor account of this matrix includes two types of water: raw water (for agricultural and non-agricultural use) and treated wastewater. Second, the activity account distinguishes between agricultural branches that use only raw water and those that use both raw irrigation water and treated wastewater. In addition to these agricultural branches, the activity account explicitly includes the production and distribution of the drinking water sector. In total, SAM-WATER 2015 includes 24 production activity accounts, 24 goods and services accounts, 6 production factors, 4 institutions, 1 tax and duties account, and a capital accumulation account. This disaggregation allows us to gain insight into the water cycle in Tunisia, which in turn allows us, through the scenarios envisaged in the CGE models, to examine the socioeconomic impact of the water policies in Tunisia. Keywords: social accounting matrix, water management, treated wastewater, agricultural activities. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.8.5