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What are some examples of countries which went rapidly from rich to poor

The one I can think of is Myanmar.


Back in the 1960s, Myanmar income per capita was one of the greatest in South East Asia. It was US$ 250 at that time, twice of Thailand and around four times of Indonesia. Only slightly below Malaysia.

Myanmar was one of the richest and a very influential nation. It is one of the founders of the Asia-Africa Union along with Indonesia and India. But then it closed down its economy, led by military junta, and the rest is history.

Fifty years later, it is the poorest nation in South East Asia, with the GDP per capita around US$ 1,000. Only a quarter of Indonesia and even lower than Laos and Cambodia.

Other examples, I think would be Nauru and Afghanistan.

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