ABSTRACT
Myanmar (or Burma) is a case of an underperforming economy that, despite its history, location, and potential as an economic powerhouse, curiously remains poor and dependent. Similar to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Myanmar is of interest because, despite its location and potential as a postcolonial economic success story, it remains a low-income country. From a historical and comparative institutional perspective, we shed light on the challenges that confront a low-income, postcolonial State like Myanmar. We examine how the domestic institutional structures and pervasive government presence in every aspect of society results in low economic growth and extensive and persistent poverty. We explain how its colonial history and legacies, and international factors impact the nature of State and underdevelopment in Myanmar. Based on the insights from the foregoing factors, its institutional structures, and nature of governance, we conclude that Myanmar’s development challenges in Southeast Asia are similar to those of many States in sub-Saharan Africa.
