The reason is simple. When poor people in poor countries don't see a realistic possibility that things get better for them, they hate those for whom things are better. If things can't get better for them, they'd at least like things to get worse, too, for those for whom until now, things are better. This is based on very real feelings of revenge (which are more genuine and direct than feelings of solidarity).

Now, in a poor democracy, as in any democracy, you will have politicians who sense the sentiments of those for whom things are bad. They promise revenge (though it may not be worded that way) ... and get elected on this promise. A typical result is that more and more laws and regulations are formulated that make things worse for those for whom things are better, while being rather neutral for the rest.

One example are sexual regulations. Most poor men in poor countries are monogamous .. rather out of necessity than choice. Therefore, laws that restrict the sexual relationships of rich men are popular with those who don't want others to have what they themselves anyway also cannot have. (Women in poor countries are generally in favor of laws and regulations that restrict sexual relationships of men, as their optimal procreative strategies anyway are more monogamous than those of men.)

The trend is implemented most easily in Islamic countries. It is also popular in countries where foreigners (sex tourists) come for easy pickings.

When such a development takes off, it's a vicious circle. When conditions for sexual satisfaction get worse, those who can afford it go somewhere else, and take their money with them.

Those men with money to spend and to invest will probably not admit this in public, but all by themselves (and without discussing this with a wife or children), they will follow a trend to focus business activities on countries where there also are easy or worthwhile sexual opportunities.

Malaysian investments in Cambodia are a current example. A historic example is Japan, where, in the early decades after World War II, Japanese companies set up mistresses for foreign business partners, thus luring them into focusing trade on that country.