It s deeply ingrained. Another contributing factor, according to Transparency International, an organization that monitors international corruption, is the degree to which officials perceive themselves as immune to any penalties for demanding and receiving bribes. From the perspective of U.S. entrepreneurs, bribery presents a double-edged sword. While bribes are expected in many countries, the United States 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits payments made to foreign government officials with the aim of gaining or maintaining business. Not all payments are prohibited by the act.
Some payments are acceptable if they don t violate local laws.
Gifts, for instance, to officers working for foreign corporations are legal, according to Veltkamp. But it can be difficult to determine the difference between a gift and a bribe in a given situation. In some cultures, gift-giving is an entrenched part of doing business. If you look at it in a certain sense, maybe it s a bribe, since they won t talk to you until you ve made that gesture. Many U.S. entrepreneurs who believe this placed them at a disadvantage in the international business arena expect the OECD act to level the playing field.