[rational_indian]

> We have democracy, social policies (even universal healthcare, which is comically bad anyway but we do have that), freedom of speech, free press, yadda yadda

Most middle-eastern countries do not have this either...

> but Myanmar is still richer than us.

but I am willing to bet they are richer than both Nepal and Myanmar. It seems what Myanmar has over Nepal is natural resources, (just like the middle eastern countries). This is nothing to be proud of.

[nayaketo]

We are blessed in other ways too. We have a huge hydroelectricity potential that we haven't tapped fully. The problem is that people are insanely xenophobic and foreign investment is derided as "selling out to foreigners" here. Existing rules make it a nightmare for prospective foreign investors. There's not much capital inside to invest on our own natural resources.