Climate disruptions highlighted factors likely to shape the contours of climate change in Laos. Among these, regional relationships and resource-driven development continued to be important, as did inequality within Laos. Popular dissatisfaction with the capacity of the Lao state continued, exacerbated by environmental disasters and continuing limitations on free speech.

This article examines the economics-politics nexus in Thailand and Myanmar in the context of rent-seeking, revenues from oil and gas resources, and possible political reform.