Nepal, May 5 -- I recently overheard two men-presumably friends-venting about their struggles. They spoke about everyday frustrations, the weather, and more specifically, the state of the country. To them, everything felt like it was falling apart. It wasn't what it used to be ten years ago. They listed reason after reason for why things were getting worse.

What struck me was that this conversation took place in Canada, one of the most developed nations in the world. And yet, the tone felt oddly familiar. It wasn't very different from conversations I used to hear in Kathmandu when I lived there.

This kind of discussion isn't uncommon. In many ways, it reflects a broader reality: inflation is high, the cost of living continues to rise, a...