This reflects the fact that many business people think that bribery in the third world is a fairly innocuous affair. Or Germany's non-wage labour costs. Corruption is not a victimless crime, he says. Over time, argues Mr. Eigen, who has the touch of the Old Testament prophet about him, corruption threatens to reduce a country's entire administration to a Zairian state of decay. Honest officials give up.
Bribes grow ever bigger and more ubiquitous.
Like most saints or zealots, Mr. Eigen sees the world a touch too simply. On the other hand, all three countries would surely be better places if there were fewer back-handers. His first problem is getting people to admit that corruption is a problem. In this respect, Mr. Eigen can claim one success. He set up Transparency international four years ago mainly because his employer for the previous 25 years, the World Bank, was reluctant to raise the issue with developing countries.