Bribery

Bribery is a crime that happens when someone offers money, gifts, or anything valuable to influence public officials in their work. This can involve local, state, or federal officials. Bribing foreign officials is also illegal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In business, bribery is considered an unfair trade practice.

The History of Bribery

Bribery is not new; it has been around since ancient times. For example, an Egyptian pharaoh once declared that any priest or official caught taking a bribe would face the death penalty. One famous bribery scandal involved officials of the International Olympic Committee accepting large payments to vote for the location of the Winter 2002 Olympic Games.

Different Names for Bribery

Bribery is known by many different names around the world:

• In West Africa, it is called "dash."
• In Italy, it is called "la bustarella" (the little envelope).
• In India, it is called "rishvat."
• In the United States, it is sometimes called "grease."

Government Rules Against Bribery

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has strict rules preventing government officials from accepting anything valuable from individuals or organizations that might be affected by their duties. The Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) also includes bribery as a crime that can be prosecuted if it is part of a pattern of illegal activity.

Spotting Bribery in Business

Detecting bribery can be tricky, but there are some warning signs or "red flags" to watch for:

• An employee's spending that is higher than their income.
• Unusually close relationships between an employee and an outside contractor.
• Employees who ignore standard operating procedures.
• Employees who frequently make excuses for supplier problems.
• Employees under external pressures, like family illness, addiction, or gambling.

International Efforts to Fight Bribery

In 1999, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) established a convention to fight bribery. This convention requires countries to make it a crime to offer, promise, or give any undue advantage to foreign public officials to get or keep business.

The Role of Transparency International

Transparency International (TI) is an organization that works to raise awareness about bribery and provides information to help prevent it. TI has created an "Integrity Pact" for government contracts, which is a promise among all parties to conduct business ethically and legally. TI also publishes a bribery index, ranking countries on how often bribes are used to gain business. In 2007, Paraguay and Peru were rated as having the most corrupt judicial systems, while Singapore and Denmark were the least corrupt. The United States ranked somewhere in the middle.

Conclusion

Bribery is a serious crime with a long history, and it takes many forms around the world. Efforts to combat bribery include strict government rules, international agreements, and organizations dedicated to promoting ethical business practices. Understanding bribery and recognizing its signs are important steps in creating a fair and just society.