Phouphet Kyophilavong2015-10-062015-10-062015http://hdl.handle.net/10625/54716Resource booms can result in overvaluation of the national currency, an effect commonly referred to as Dutch disease. Laos is a resource-rich economy in terms of mining and hydropower, but the government has not formed relevant policy to deal with this issue. Studies show that resource-rich countries can suffer from slow growth compared with resource‐poor countries often due to effects of Dutch disease, conflicts, and rent seeking. This brief investigates and considers policy options: diversification of the economy; management of fiscal and monetary policy; balancing the budget; reduction of external borrowing; rapid repayment of debt; and setting up funds for future expenditure.Text1 digital file (26 p.)application/pdfenECONOMIC GROWTHFISCAL POLICYRESOURCES EXPLOITATIONHYDROELECTRIC POWERMINERAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCE CURSEFOREIGN INVESTMENTRENT THEORYRIGHT TO NATURAL RESOURCES CONTROLCHILEBOTSWANAGOVERNANCEDIVERSIFICATIONMONETARY POLICYPolicy Brief