- Insane taxation ('nuff said);

- Primitive transport infrastructure (bad roads, don't ever try to put something expensive into the postal system (it will be destroyed by mishandling or simply stolen), etc.)

- Dysfunctional economy (change rates float wildly, government manipulation, etc.).

- Inefficient and corrupt bureaucracy (Trying to open a company? Good luck. Trying to close it? Prepare for a nightmare. Needing a permit? Sit and wait, but some public servants may ask money to "speed the things up");

- People are used to pay insane prices for a lot of items (electronic devices, cars, faucets and other bathroom metals (seriously), a housing bubble building up for some years, etc.). This is a major factor, btw. Even there is no real reason for keeping the prices high, they don't fall because people still paying.