Myanmar’s Sanction Legacy: The Results of Nonengagement

Abstract

This chapter tracks the three sanction rounds against the military regime of Myanmar through longitudinal analyses of variance of trade metrics. The discussion focuses on why despite tightening sanctions Myanmar experienced economic growth and what specific sectors grew the most. Due to improving trade and diplomatic relations with its rapidly-developing Asian neighbors, Myanmar was able to mitigate sanction effects to the point of running an impressive trade surplus. These facts built significant wealth for the ruling regime and lowered the incentives for the government to comply with sanction demands.