It will be the first conference of its kind to focus on fighting corruption. The fact is, corruption hurts real people. When a contract is awarded based on a bribe, instead of fair competition, it cheats people out of quality products and services. More importantly, it cheats them out of a government dedicated to the people. Instead, you get a government whose officials are lining their own pockets.
Corruption also discourages investment.
It is an unnecessary tax on doing business that should not be there. It took effect last week, I am happy to report. It makes it a crime for citizens and companies to bribe officials of another country. And it requires countries that allow tax deductions for foreign bribes to end that outrageous practice. They had promised to ratify it by the end of 1998.