10% of world's people pay bribes

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7130529.stm

One in 10 'forced to pay bribes'

More than one in 10 people has paid a bribe in the past 12 months, a survey by global anti-corruption body Transparency International has found.

The report added that the world's poor were the hardest hit by bribery.

The police and judiciary were the worst offenders, with one quarter of those who come into contact with the police paying a bribe.

About half believe corruption is on the rise and 70% said political parties were the most corrupt institutions.

"The police and the judiciary in many countries around the world are part of a cycle of corruption, demanding bribes from citizens," said Transparency International managing director Cobus de Swardt.

While the police may get the worst criticism on a global basis, within Europe people are most likely to pay bribes for medical services.

Who pays the most bribes

• Cameroon - 79%
• Cambodia - 72%
• Albania - 71%
• Kosovo - 67%
• FYR Macedonia - 44%
• Pakistan - 44%
• Nigeria - 40%
• Senegal - 38%
• Romania - 33%
• Philippines - 32%

Percentage of people who paid a bribe in the past 12 months (Source: Transparency International)

Who pay's the fewest bribes

• Austria - 1%
• Canada - 1%
• France - 1%
• Iceland - 1%
• Japan - 1%
• South Korea - 1%
• Sweden - 1%
• Switzerland - 1%
• Denmark - 2%
• Netherlands - 2%

[Percentage of people who paid a bribe in the past 12 months (Source: Transparency International)

Tax on poor

The popular perception may be that bribes are paid by wealthy people to gain influence and oil the wheels of power, but they are mostly paid by poor people to ensure they get basic public services.

"Extortion hits low-income households with a regressive tax that saps scarce household resources," the report said

Corruption levels vary across the globe.

In Africa, 42% of people paid a bribe to obtain a service, though this figure is down from 47% in 2006.

Elsewhere, petty bribery was on the rise, with 22% of people in the Asia Pacific region paying a bribe in 2007, up from 15% in 2006. In south-east Europe, 12% paid a bribe, up from 8%.

While Africa is the region most affected by bribery, Africans, particularly Ghanaians and Nigerians, were optimistic about their government's anti-corruption efforts.

But half of those interviewed globally think their government's efforts to fight corruption are ineffective.

The institutions which fared best were religious bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - though the perception of NGOs has worsened since the last survey.

Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer 2007 interviewed 63,199 people in 60 countries and territories between June and September 2007.

Edited December 6, 2007 by CherryXS

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not even a mention of India? I'm surprised. Bribery is a way of life out there. I've paid a few myself. Frankly, I like it. It's basically express-service for those who can afford to pay extra.

[GaryC 7]

When we were getting Luz's annulment we had to bribe everyone from the prosecutor to the court reporter. It was do it or wait forever.

[Sinergy 3]

Romanias 33% is grossly UNDER id say more like 65%

[peejay 327]

What? No mention of the USA in either list?

I have never or would ever pay a bribe to a US government employee or official. Period! I have given tips for better service in the private sector though.

Working in the US oil industry I have seen kickbacks, which is very unethical and also illegal. In Louisiana that practice was rampant in my early days in the industry. IMO Louisiana is the closest thing to a banana republic that we have in the USA. But to be fair, I have seen it in Texas too, but not as bad.

I have also seen other unethical forms of bribery / kickbacks in the oil business (i.e.: prostitutes, excessive gifts, etc., etc.) that contractors use to get business they wouldn't have gotten in a legit bidding process. The oil companies have cracked down on it, but I'm sure it still goes on on a smaller scale than in the past. I just don't see it as openly now.

There were some US Minerals Management Service inspectors nailed in the early 1980's in Louisiana for taking bribes to ignore discrepancies. Some got nailed for threatening legal action against oil companies unless the companies hired contractors they recommended to repair discrepancies. I'm sure most people understand how sleazy that was. These were basically extortion schemes by US government regulators to overcharge for repairs and take a cut of the action. The companies would just pay rather than make waves. A cost of doing business. These crooks were using their position for private gain. That is classic corruption. A lot of oil company employees were intimidated and were afraid to complain. It was easier to go along with it. I'm glad the azzholes finally got nailed. I don't want that ####### happening in my country.

At least in America it is not widespread as in other countries and there are mechanisms in place to combat it here. It's not as ingrained as in some countries, but I have personally seen it. I will say it is not as bad as it was 20+ years ago and it has since been cleaned up for the most part (or is not as open where it is blatant).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I will say it is not as bad as it was 20+ years ago and it has since been cleaned up for the most part (or is not as open where it is blatant).

That roughly corresponds to the timeframe of a sudden increase in non-Caucasian, non-Christian immigration into the United States.

You can thank me later.

[Imua 0]

Not even a mention of India? I'm surprised. Bribery is a way of life out there. I've paid a few myself. Frankly, I like it. It's basically express-service for those who can afford to pay extra.

How do you think we got our court marriage processed so quickly??

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Pattu, never say that out loud in America. Not everyone understands.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Not even a mention of India? I'm surprised. Bribery is a way of life out there. I've paid a few myself. Frankly, I like it. It's basically express-service for those who can afford to pay extra.

Maybe reporting issues (as in a lot of bribes are NOT reported, so don't make it into stats)?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not even a mention of India? I'm surprised. Bribery is a way of life out there. I've paid a few myself. Frankly, I like it. It's basically express-service for those who can afford to pay extra.

Maybe reporting issues (as in a lot of bribes are NOT reported, so don't make it into stats)?

Well duh, who would report a bribe?????

[Imua 0]

Pattu, never say that out loud in America. Not everyone understands.

To be honest, I don't know for a fact that bribery was involved... My FIL handled all of the details, I just signed where I was told to. But knowing how much it is a fact of life in Nepal, it would not surprise me. I was asked for 'a little extra' once when I was at KTM airport and had excess luggage(the lama I was teaching for suddenly wanted me to bring back a huge duffle bag full of brassware, 3 days before I was scheduled to leave Nepal, after I had bought enough stuff to max out my baggage allowance).

I only know that I had to pay a little extra for expedited service...to buy extra chiyaa and momos for the people who were processing our documents, since they were staying inside working extra hard on our papers instead of going out to eat....that's right. It was the nice thing to do.

[ya falaha! 0]

I'm shocked that Egypt isn't on there. Baksheesh (tips/bribes) is almost expected just about everywhere. You can't do business in a timely fashion in Egypt without baksheesh.

[peejay 327]

I will say it is not as bad as it was 20+ years ago and it has since been cleaned up for the most part (or is not as open where it is blatant).

That roughly corresponds to the timeframe of a sudden increase in non-Caucasian, non-Christian immigration into the United States.

You can thank me later.

Thanks, but no thanks.

I blame it all on self serving baby boomer yuppie types that have a sense of entitlement mentality along with no scruples, ethics, or sense of community my parents' generation had. It's the mentality of the "Me" generation that puts the individual (themselves) rather than the group common good ahead in importance. It's the spoiled punks of the baby boom generation that never grew up, ever had to, and probably never will. They want what they want when they want it and don't give a ####### how they get it. For all their formal education, many are totally clueless.

I seriously doubt the present situation will improve with the introduction of masses from the Third World that basically could give a ####### less about anything except what they can get out of America and enabled by these natives with the same rotten mentality. Look at what a corrupt mess immigration into the USA has degenerated into. It is American institutional corruption at its worst.

I have serious doubts about your theory that Whitey is the root cause of a problem that has been around before, during, and after the arrival of your non-Caucasion, non-Christian peoples. The truth is that it is way less here than in the Third World, but at the rate we're going we might catch up with them real soon.

But you are welcome to your delusions. Party on!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I will say it is not as bad as it was 20+ years ago and it has since been cleaned up for the most part (or is not as open where it is blatant).

That roughly corresponds to the timeframe of a sudden increase in non-Caucasian, non-Christian immigration into the United States.

You can thank me later.

Thanks, but no thanks.

I blame it all on self serving baby boomer yuppie types that have a sense of entitlement mentality along with no scruples, ethics, or sense of community my parents' generation had. It's the mentality of the "Me" generation that puts the individual (themselves) rather than the group common good ahead in importance. It's the spoiled punks of the baby boom generation that never grew up, ever had to, and probably never will. They want what they want when they want it and don't give a ####### how they get it. For all their formal education, many are totally clueless.

I seriously doubt the present situation will improve with the introduction of masses from the Third World that basically could give a ####### less about anything except what they can get out of America and enabled by these natives with the same rotten mentality. Look at what a corrupt mess immigration into the USA has degenerated into. It is American institutional corruption at its worst.

I have serious doubts about your theory that Whitey is the root cause of a problem that has been around before, during, and after the arrival of your non-Caucasion, non-Christian peoples. The truth is that it is way less here than in the Third World, but at the rate we're going we might catch up with them real soon.

But you are welcome to your delusions. Party on!

Relax, I was playing

[peejay 327]

I will say it is not as bad as it was 20+ years ago and it has since been cleaned up for the most part (or is not as open where it is blatant).

That roughly corresponds to the timeframe of a sudden increase in non-Caucasian, non-Christian immigration into the United States.

You can thank me later.

Thanks, but no thanks.

I blame it all on self serving baby boomer yuppie types that have a sense of entitlement mentality along with no scruples, ethics, or sense of community my parents' generation had. It's the mentality of the "Me" generation that puts the individual (themselves) rather than the group common good ahead in importance. It's the spoiled punks of the baby boom generation that never grew up, ever had to, and probably never will. They want what they want when they want it and don't give a ####### how they get it. For all their formal education, many are totally clueless.

I seriously doubt the present situation will improve with the introduction of masses from the Third World that basically could give a ####### less about anything except what they can get out of America and enabled by these natives with the same rotten mentality. Look at what a corrupt mess immigration into the USA has degenerated into. It is American institutional corruption at its worst.

I have serious doubts about your theory that Whitey is the root cause of a problem that has been around before, during, and after the arrival of your non-Caucasion, non-Christian peoples. The truth is that it is way less here than in the Third World, but at the rate we're going we might catch up with them real soon.

But you are welcome to your delusions. Party on!

Relax, I was playing

So was I. I've been trading insults with people since before you were born.