Burma's Insatiable State

Abstract/Sommario: The bounty presently accruing to Burma from rising exports of natural gas promises to transform the country's finances. Redeeming this promise, however, will require wholesale reform of Burma's fiscal and financial arrangements. Such reforms are unlikely. The article explores the financial potential of Burma's gas exports, the danger that they could yield a 'resources curse', and the extent to which the state's fiscal demands compromise Burma's economic development