To grease or Not to grease

One recent study has shown that bribes account for 8% of the total cost of running a business in Uganda. Another found that corruption boosted the price of hospital supplies in Buenos Aires by 15%.

Though most of the world is plagued by corruption, even serial offenders try to conceal it. Nigerian policemen are known to ask for “a little something for the weekend”. "Kopi Duit" means "Coffee Money" or term use for asking or taking bribes in Malaysia. Mexican traffic police will suggest that you buy them a refresco, a soft drink. A bribe to a border guard may be folded into a passport. A sweetener to a Thailand's traffic cop is often placed in the ticket-book that is handed to the driver. In Nigeria, one of the world´s most corrupt country, journalists are given hundreds of dollars in brown envelopes “for expenses” simply to attend press conferences.

But in Singapore, attempting to grease a palm can get either party to jail for up to 5 years and fine up to $10,000. So think before you act!

Updated On: 07.07.09