Myanmar and Thailand are in the same region, but beyond that there aren't many similarities. Thailand has been successful in its quest for economic and political development while Myanmar has failed. First of all the Union of Myanmar was colonized by the British, whereas Thailand has always been independent. Thailand easily adopted westernization and opened its economy through a policy of free enterprise; Myanmar rejected Western ways, and chose to isolate their nation from the global economic system. As a result, Thailand's per capita GNP rose almost $3,000 in 30 years. Myanmar's per capita GNP raised only $600 in the same amount of time. Only the presence of the black market has made the economy of Myanmar tolerable.