In any human society, people are most interested in sex. Sex occupies their minds, whether they admit it or not, and whether they are physically or socially able to have it.
Sexual jealousy is also a much stronger feeling than material envy. In democracies, poor people can live with the wealth and even the tax trickery of rich candidates. But sex scandals reliably end political careers.
In the politics of liberal democracies, and even in the activities of NGOs, targeting the sexuality of others is a sure recipe for attention and votes.
Most poor men in poor countries are monogamous out of necessity rather than choice. Therefore, laws that restrict the sexual relationships of rich men are popular with those who do not want others to have what they themselves cannot have anyway.
And women in developing countries are generally in favor of laws and regulations that restrict men's sexual relationships.
This trend is most easily implemented in Islamic countries. It is also popular in countries where foreigners come for easy sexual encounters.
When such a development takes off, those who can afford it go somewhere else and take their money with them.
Men with money to spend and to invest will follow the trend of focusing business activities on countries where there are easy or worthwhile sexual opportunities.
Malaysian investments in Cambodia are an example. And in Japan, in the early decades after World War II, companies arranged mistresses for foreign business partners, thereby encouraging them to focus their trade on that country.