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In the history of Burma's economy, few groups have been as vilified as the Chettiars. A community of Indian moneylenders, the Chettiars were crucial agents in transforming Burma into the rice bowl of Asia. Following the global depression of the 1930s, Burmese agriculture became severely distressed and wide-scale loan default saw the transfer of much of Burma's cultivatable land to the Chettiars, who were demonised and made scapegoats for the vices of colonialism. The paper draws on the 'information-theoretic revolution' in economics to reappraise the role of the Chettiars in Burma. We conclude the Chettiars merit history's better judgement.JEL categories: Q14, O16, O17, N25

This article analyzes the current state of Burma's economy and the possibilities for reform. The serial underperformer of the region, Burma's emergence in recent years as a significant regional exporter of natural gas has created the potential for economic progress. Thus far this potential has yet to be realized, however, in a country whose economic policy‐making framework remains one of dirigisme. In 2008, Burma's economy was dealt a further blow when the country was struck by Cyclone Nargis. This article begins by examining the economic impact of Nargis before moving on to examine the longer‐term reforms required to restore prosperity to this all‐too‐often forgotten country.

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