I am no expert.. but you don't need to be so smart to figure out why Laos is so poor.
Let me know you know Laos is poor...there are only two reasons:
1. CORRUPTION: Everything is corrupted, government official at every level is corrupted.... so the money needed to development will never reach its intended purpose
2. NEPOTISM: If someone holds a big position governments, there is 99% chance that his entire family member will gain benefits, indirectly or directly. His family will be given
special treatment for doing business, bidding big projects, or given a high position in government.. You get the ideas!!!