Alazraki and others blame Mexico's long undemocratic history for a lack of accountability in government. With scandals frequently shaking the PRI's pyramid of power, critics say, a culture of corruption has seeped into every corner of society. It seems there has been a sort of agreement in which everyone could be corrupted and everyone could violate the law. Merchants and homeowners often slide a little cash to city hall clerks to speed permit applications and other paperwork. Many industrialists offer kickbacks for favorable regulations or sweetheart government contracts.
Some politicians reward themselves or their relatives by siphoning money from the public trough.
Of course, poverty compounds the problem. Local, state and federal governments pay their police and other employees what often amount to starvation wages. One recent study for the World Bank suggests that Mexico would have to increase average government wages nine times in order to erase workers' reliance on bribes. This provokes corruption. But with an oft-ailing economy and tax collection always a challenge, governments at every level find it difficult to raise wages.