Burma s economic poverty is the result of the 20 years of total isolation forced upon it by Ne Win, the leader who still dreams of development free of capitalist or socialist taint. His dream of self-sufficiency went wrong.
People get by through using their ingenuity to cope with the shortages of a planned economy.
The first overwhelming feeling I had when I arrived in Burma was how ingenious the people were in making do with the materials they had in and around their homes. That initial impression didn t wear off with time. Planned economies everywhere in the world tend not to plan for the needs of the average person. On the black market prices are high compared to average wages so most people can rarely afford to buy. Most depend on making things last, adapting and sewing together.