If you’re doing business in Russia, China or Mexico and aren’t afraid of U.S. anti-bribery laws, get your wallet, checkbook, or bank routing number handy.
These countries scored the worst for bribery according to a survey by Transparency International, a group that tracks corruption in industry. Other countries bad on bribery are India, Brazil and Italy.
If you’re a Dudley Doo-Right and like things on the up and up, then consider doing business in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany or Japan.
The U.S. came in a little lower in the survey, tied with France and Singapore.
Can’t say I am surprised. About 20 years ago when I was a news correspondent in Moscow, we did a story about corruption in the Gorbachev era. A deputy minister of foreign trade had been fingered for accepting a $100,000 bribe from an Italian businessman.
We tracked the businessman down in Italy. His response was indignant: “One hundred thousand dollars? It was more like $150,000.”
